In a normal year, the presidential inauguration would be a massive event, taking over nearly all of Washington, D.C., with the streets overflowing with supporters (and often some protesters) in an exhilarating celebration of the birth of a new administration or the continuation of the current administration. Of course, 2021 is no ordinary year: with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, President-elect Joe Biden (opens in new tab) and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (opens in new tab) have instituted a series of strict safety protocols: to build a more perfect Union."

As a result, the event will be quite different from previous years' (opens in new tab), most of which were virtual, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee has taken the fact that most of last summer's Democratic National Convention was held virtually Taking a hint, attendance at all in-person portions of the day will be severely restricted. This means that there will be no new fodder for national health and safety and for one person to (falsely) brag about the (sparse) turnout at his or her own inauguration. The day's events will culminate in a virtual inaugural parade that will highlight Americans across the country.

Details are still being finalized, but the virtual parade will begin around 2 or 3 p.m. ET on January 20 and will last at least several hours. The official swearing-in ceremony for the incoming president and vice president usually begins around 11:00 AM, followed by the new president's inaugural address. The new leaders then conduct a ceremonial inspection of the armed forces, after which they are officially escorted from the Capitol to the White House, at which point the inaugural parade begins.

In contrast to inviting large crowds to Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the parade, this virtual event "showcases President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris' unwavering commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and unified nation," while spotlight on more people than ever before," Tony Allen, CEO of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, said in a January 5 statement.

Although specific performers have not yet been announced, the inaugural parade regularly draws thousands of participants representing marching bands, dance troupes, military groups, and other organizations from across the United States. PIC Biden-Harris has confirmed that this tradition will continue, with musicians, poets, dancers, and others performing virtually in the parade. And while in previous years celebrities would appear to sing the national anthem at the swearing-in ceremony and serenade the First and Second Families at dozens of inaugural balls throughout D.C., this year those events will be canceled or greatly scaled back, so Biden and Harris' famous supporters (

Overall, according to the committee, "the parade will honor American heroes, spotlight Americans from all walks of life in different states and regions, and reflect on the nation's diversity, traditions, and resilience as we begin a new American era.

First and foremost, you can watch the entire Biden-Harris inauguration event live on every news channel (and many non-news channels) throughout the day on January 20. If you want to get even more involved, the committee has released a collection of inauguration-themed social media graphics and Zoom backgrounds (open in new tab) for your virtual inauguration party needs.

In addition, the committee is calling on Americans to submit videos (opens in new tab) that speak to the importance of community service and the American vision. These videos will be posted on the committee's website and will likely be played during the virtual parade proceedings.

Keep an eye on this page in the final days leading up to the inauguration of Biden and Harris.