But Swearing-In Is Restricted to 4,000 Invitations
By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2006
As many as 40,000 people may visit Colonial Williamsburg tomorrow to see Timothy M. Kaine be sworn in as Virginia's 70th governor. Only 4,000 invited guests, however, will be able to watch in person.
That's because there is limited space in the grandstands in front of the platform where Kaine (D) will raise his hand in the state's original capital city.
Those not invited can listen to Kaine's oath-taking and inaugural address along the streets of Colonial Williamsburg from speakers on Duke of Gloucester Street. For those willing to show up early, 1,000 members of the public will be able to watch the speech on big-screen televisions in a heated tent on Williamsburg's Courthouse Green.
For 227 years, Virginia's governors have sworn the oath of office in Richmond, where the state Capitol was moved by Thomas Jefferson in 1780 during the Revolutionary War. In Richmond, there has been some space for members of the public to view the ceremony. But the Capitol building is being renovated, so state leaders decided to hold this year's festivities in Williamsburg, where reenactors preserve the world of Colonial Virginia.
Kaine will be the third governor to take the oath in Williamsburg, after Patrick Henry and Jefferson. To honor the moment, the ceremony will include such Colonial touches as an 18th-century cannon, horse-drawn carriages and a fife-and-drum corps.
Inaugural organizers said it will be worth it for people to drive to Williamsburg to soak up the atmosphere of the historic moment, even given the cramped space for the oath-taking.
The educational foundation that runs the 301-acre historical area has assured the public that exhibits will remain open. Visitors will also be able to watch the hour-long inaugural parade down the town's main drag. It will feature, among others, the National Guard, school groups and the Latin Ballet of Virginia.
"We're going to continue to do programming in the historical area as much as we possibly can that doesn't interfere with the events," said Jim Bradley, a spokesman for the foundation. "I want people to come. They should come with a sense of history and a sense of adventure."
Official inaugural events will begin today with community service events in the Williamsburg area, followed by a barbecue for volunteers. Kaine will attend a concert tonight headlined by the Beach Boys; tickets are available for $75.
Tomorrow's ceremonies will begin with an invitation-only service at Williamsburg's Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. Kaine, along with Virginia's new lieutenant governor, Bill Bolling (R), and attorney general, Robert F. McDonnell (R), is scheduled to take the oath shortly after noon. In the evening, he is scheduled to attend two balls, one in Williamsburg and one in Richmond. Tickets to the parties, which are $100, will remain on sale until 5 p.m. today.
Organizers said they are working under the assumption that the festivities could draw as many people as Williamsburg's Christmas celebration, the Grand Illumination, which last year attracted 40,000. That would surpass Virginia's best-attended inaugural, in 1990, when an estimated 30,000 watched L. Douglas Wilder become the nation's first elected black governor.
Twice as many satellite television trucks have reserved spots in Williamsburg as did in Richmond four years ago for Gov. Mark R. Warner (D). Williamsburg planners are working to tuck them behind buildings, to lessen the chance that they will intrude on the 18th-century spirit.
Hotels have been booked for weeks. At the Williamsburg Lodge, where all members of the General Assembly will be staying, the inauguration has boosted occupancy from 20 percent in a normal winter to jam-packed. "This is great business to have in January," said operations manager John Shideler.
Thousands of people will come by car for a day trip. Limited parking will be available at the Williamsburg Visitors Center, but there are several other lots and garages within walking distance, Bradley said.
Of course, weather could play a big role in how many people attend. A windy day is forecast, with highs in the mid-40s and a 30 percent chance of rain. If it rains, Bradley said, those who attend will simply get wet. "Our rain plan is umbrellas and clear plastic ponchos," he said.
And for those not inclined to make the drive to Williamsburg, there is another option: NewsChannel 8 will broadcast the events live.
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