Party-goers, listen up. You can attend a mix of inaugural festivities for Gov.-elect Parris N. Glendening next month, including two balls, a parade, a State House reception and an open house at the Governor's Mansion.
Balls will be held in Baltimore and Prince George's County, which, along with Montgomery County, helped the Democrat win narrowly in November.
The Baltimore event will be an indoor reception at Oriole Park at Camden Yards at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 for invited guests and, if space allows, the public, said Eric Andrus, a Glendening spokesman. Tickets will cost $75 per person. Business attire will be acceptable.
The Inaugural Ball will be in Prince George's County -- a $125 a head black-tie affair with dinner and dancing at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro (also called the Equestrian Center), Mr. Andrus said.
The arena can accommodate 3,000 people, and tickets will be available to the public if there is room after invited guests.
No tax dollars will be used for the parties, explained Michele T. Rozner, an incoming deputy chief of staff in the Glendening State House. Money will be raised from private contributors, and any left over will be donated to charity. Names of contributors will be made public. Mrs. Rozner and Mr. Glendening declined to reveal the budget for the events, saying details will be available later.
Several Inaugural Day events in Annapolis will be free, beginning with a procession at 10:45 a.m. Jan. 18. Mr. Glendening, Lt. Gov.-elect Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and state officials will walk from the Governor's Mansion across State Circle to the State House. (The Glendening team is calling the mansion by its old, egalitarian-sounding name -- Government House.)
Mr. Glendening will take the oath of office in the Senate chamber at noon. The oath will be broadcast to citizens gathered outside the State House, where the governor will then deliver his inaugural address.
There will be a "parade of counties" -- including Baltimore -- that features a school band from each jurisdiction, Mr. Andrus said. The parade starts on East Street and continues to State Circle and North Street.
The governor and first lady will preside over a public reception at the State House. Three days later, the Glendenings will open the Governor's Mansion to citizens from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 21. There will be light refreshments and entertainment geared toward families, Mr. Andrus said.