Presidential Inaugural Committee Announces Announcer and Participants for the “Parade Across America” *Updated
Parade to Include Americans and Performances Representing All 56 U.S. States and Territories, A First for Inaugural Parades
University of Delaware and Howard University Drumlines to Perform Live from Washington, Charlie Brotman to Announce In-person Elements of Parade
Tony Goldwyn to Host with Appearances by Jon Stewart, New Radicals, Andra Day, Dancers, Olympic Athletes, Internet Stars, and More to Help Spotlight American Heroes
Parade to Feature DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic, featuring Earth Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge
WASHINGTON — The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced participants in a virtual “Parade Across America” on January 20 at 3:15 PM ET that will feature diverse, dynamic performances in communities in all 56 states and territories, celebrate America’s heroes, and highlight the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country.
Additionally, the PIC announced that the University of Delaware Drumline and the Howard University Drumline -- the alma maters of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris -- will join the Presidential Escort in Washington. They will escort the President-elect and Vice President-elect from 15th Street to the White House and help kick off the “Parade Across America” with live performances. In addition to the drumlines, the escort will include representatives of every branch of the military, including the U.S. Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard, and the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and Fife and Drum Corps from the 3rd U.S. Infantry “The Old Guard.” This portion of the event will be announced by Charlie Brotman, who has announced nearly every Inaugural Parade since President Eisenhower.
“As a nation, we are strengthened by our respect for one another. By lifting up voices from all walks of life, in every corner of our country, we want the first moments of the Biden-Harris Administration to be a celebration of an inclusive, resilient united America,” said PIC CEO and President of Delaware State University, Tony Allen.
The parade will be hosted by actor, director, and producer Tony Goldwyn and feature 1,391 virtual participants, 95 horses, and nine dogs.
Well-known performers and athletes will be featured in the parade, including:
• Jon Stewart
• New Radicals, who will reunite for the first time in 22 years
• DJ Cassidy's Pass The Mic, featuring Earth, Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge, The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, The Washington Chorus, The Triumph Baptist Church Choir, and everyday Americans
• Andra Day, featuring inspirational figure skater Kaitlyn Saunders, also known as The Skate Kid
• Olympic athletes, including Nathan Chen, Allyson Felix, and Katie Ledecky
• NBA and WNBA players, including Elena Delle Donne, Chris Paul, and Grant Hill
• Viral sensation and feel-good skateboarder Nathan Apodaca, also known as DoggFace
The parade will include the United States Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.It will also feature a Dance Across America, led by director and choreographer Kenny Ortega. The segment will include 275 participants in 30 states and two territories. Additionally, the Ryan Martin Foundation, a wheelchair basketball program, will join the parade.
In addition, the parade will feature heroes in communities across the country, including:
• Dr. Jason Campbell, the “TikTok Doc,” is a resident in the Department of Anesthesiology in Portland, Oregon. He uses the platform to entertain to lift spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic and connect with young people.
• Cathy Cluck is an AP U.S. History teacher at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. To teach her students during virtual learning, Cathy went on a 15 day road trip to virtually teach history from the places where it happened, highlighting our theme of “Across America” by living it.
• Mama Mikki Stevens is an 72-year old performer from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who leads a community-service oriented, musical/comedy performance organization Red Hot Mamas. They have performed in two inaugural parades and three Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades. Since the pandemic hit, they have performed in assisted living and retirement home parking lots - parading around the buildings so all the quarantined residents could see the performance.
• Jason Zgonc is a 12-year old trumpeter from Atlanta, Georgia who played all summer during hospital workers’ break times to cheer them up. Jason’s piece ends with him in a virtual duet with Ethan Bensdorf, the New York Philharmonic trumpeter who inspired him to do this.
• Master Sergeant Cary-Ann Thomas is the Section Chief of the Contingency Cell for the 628th Contracting Squadron, 628th Mission Support Group, 628th Air Base Wing, Joint Base Charleston, SC. During the pandemic, Master Sergeant Thomas used her spare time to sew masks for the community to support her mom who is a nurse. Inspired by Master Sergeant Thomas’ actions, other military members from around the world supported her mask-making production. On behalf of Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina, Thomas will welcome President Biden as the new Commander in Chief.
The parade will feature performers and speakers in communities across the country:
• Colorado: D'Evelyn High School Marching Band
• Delaware: Chinese American Community Center
• Florida: Andrew Jackson High School Air Force Junior ROTC
• Hawaii: Hawaiians performing a traditional chant
• Idaho: The Red Hot Mamas
• Illinois: South Shore Drill Team
• Indiana: Culver Academies
• Iowa: Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corps
• Louisiana: Youth Empowerment Project (YEP)
• Massachusetts: MA Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard
• Michigan: Michigan’s Multi-Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard
• New Jersey: Teaneck High School Flag Twirlers & Drumline
• New York: FDNY EMS Emerald Pipes & Drums
• Nevada: Mariachi Joya - Las Vegas High School
• North Carolina: High Country Cloggers
• Ohio: Kenton Ridge Marching Cougar Band
• Ohio/Oregon: American Sidesaddle Association
• Pennsylvania: Boy Scout Troop 358
• Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Royalty Winterguard, Centenaria Banda Colegio University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Latin Power Dance & Arts, Banda Macaná de Guayanilla
• South Carolina: 81st Readiness Division
• Texas: Kilgore College Rangerettes
• USVI: Batons, Dancers, Steel Drums, Street Parade
• Virginia: Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors [TAPS]
• Wisconsin: Bango, Milwaukee Bucks Mascot
• Multiple states: Native American Women Warriors
• International: DoDEA Military-Connected Kids Overseas from U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy
The event will be livestreamed at https://BidenInaugural.org/watch starting at 3:15 PM ET on January 20 and on the PIC’s social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. The PIC’s streaming partners, including Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T U-verse (Channel 212/1212 in SD/HD) and DIRECTV (Channel 201), will also carry the program live.
Over the course of five days of programming, “America United” activities will honor inaugural traditions while safely allowing more Americans than ever before to participate from their own homes. These activities include, “United We Serve,” a National Day of Service on January 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a nationwide COVID-19 Memorial to Lives Lost on January 19; and the official Inaugural Ceremonies, a wreath laying on Arlington National Cemetery, and a “Parade Across America,” and a “Celebrating America” primetime program on January 20. The PIC will also install an extensive public art display — a “Field of Flags,” which will cover the National Mall up to 13th Street — to represent the American people who are unable to travel to Washington, DC.
Additional details about these and other inaugural activities will be released in the coming days. For the latest updates on inaugural programming and activities, visit bideninaugural.org.
