Balls, Parties And Galas

Though President Obama, VP Joe Biden and their wives will only make brief appearances at 10 of the balls, here’s a list of the hottest looking inaugural galas that you may want to check out if you’re in the D.C. area.

Neighborhood Inaugural Ball – Washington Convention Center (Jan 20.)

President Obama will host the first-ever “Neighborhood Inaugural Ball” with tickets available free or at an affordable price. It is the first official inaugural ball of its kind to be held during a presidential inauguration.

Green Inaugural Ball -  Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW. (Jan. 17)

Featuring organic food and drink, LED lighting, entertainment audio-visual production will be created to minimize environmental impact and keep the party’s carbon footprint light. Wyclef Jean will also be performing. Tickets: $500 and are available here.

Lincoln 2.0 Inaugural Ball -  Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. (Jan. 18)

Takes place in the landmark building where Lincoln celebrated his own inauguration in 1865. Proceeds benefit The American Art Museum and The American Experience Foundation, a charity that develops national programs to educate the public about the arts, culture, American democracy and unique heritage of Washington, DC. Tickets: $375 and are available here.

HBCU Inaugural Gala Ball - Sequoia at Washington Harbour, 3000 K St. NW. (Jan. 19)

Sponsored by Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Tickets: $300 and are available here.

Africa Aspire Inauguration Night – A Celebration of Change for the World -  Smithsonian Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. NW. (Jan. 20)

The celebration will include African cuisine, music and cultural presentations. Black Tie or traditional attire. Tickets: $500 and are available here.

We The People –  Hyatt Regency Washington, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW. (Jan. 20)

The ball is an initiative by a group of volunteers who worked as part of the “grass roots movement” supporting Senator Barack Obama’s campaign. Tickets: $295 and are available here.

Inaugural DC Ball - Old Post Office Pavilion, 1110 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (Jan. 20)

Set to benefit Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Clubs, the entertainment will feature Washington DC’s legendary Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown. Tickets: $150-250.

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration – The Lincoln Memorial  (Jan 20.)

In celebration of Obama, performers scheduled for the event include: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Heather Headley, John Legend, Usher and Stevie Wonder. Free and open to the public.

To see a complete list of all of the Inaugural Balls taking place in Washington D.C. from Jan. 16 to Jan. 20, click here.