Monday, Jan. 19

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama and vice-president-elect Joe Biden mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day, attending functions celebrating community service in the Washington, D.C., area.

On CBC Television and CBC Radio

CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge hosts a special edition of CBC News: The National, from Washington, at 10 p.m. ET (10:30 NT) on CBC Television, and at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET on CBC Newsworld on Monday, Jan. 19.

Also Monday, CBC Radio's As it Happens — airing 6:30-7:30 p.m. (7-8 p.m. NT) — will feature an interview with Bill Ayers — the controversial Chicago educator, known for his past association with the radical Weather Underground and his acquaintance with Barack Obama.

At 7 p.m. ET, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden host a children's concert honouring military families at the Verizon Center. Performers include Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.

Obama will attend private dinners commemorating the public service of Biden, former secretary of state Colin Powell and Senator John McCain.

Other evening celebrations include:

  • The Texas State Society's Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball.
  • The Green Inaugural Ball, hosted by former vice-president Al Gore.
  • The Hip-Hop Inaugural ball, thrown by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
  • The pre-inaugural ball, hosted by the Huffington Post at the Newseum.

Tuesday, Jan. 20

8 a.m. ETSecurity checkpoints on the west front of the U.S. Capitol open for guests with tickets.

10 a.m. ET Musical prelude featuring the United States Marine Band, the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

On CBC Television, CBC Radio and CBC.ca

The Current — airing 8:30-10 a.m. (9-10:30 a.m. NT) on CBC Radio — will have a full-show special on the historic day in Washington.

At 11 a.m. ET, Peter Mansbridge anchors live TV coverage of the inauguration from the Canadian Embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue while Anna Maria Tremonti, host of The Current, brings radio listeners a Canadian perspective on the occasion. Viewers can watch live streaming of the ceremony on CBC.ca.

Live coverage of the inauguration parade airs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET on CBC Newsworld. At 7 p.m. ET and midnight PT (two hours in length) CBC Television and CBC Newsworld will air highlights from the day’s festivities with CBC News correspondent Harry Forestell.

On CBC Television's The Hour (11 p.m.), George Stroumboulopoulos speaks with Vanity Fair magazine's editor-in-chief Graydon Carter about the mood in the U.S. following Barack Obama's inauguration, Vanity Fair's coverage of Obama, his expectation for the next four years and the extensive criticism of George W. Bush. Blair Underwood, The Hour's inauguration correspondent, also reports from Washington.

CBC Radio One's As It Happens (6:30 p.m. and 7:00 NT) explores Globama. Around the world, from Beijing to Ksumeu, Kenya, next to the village where Barack Obama's father was born, As It Happens talks to ordinary people about the 44th president's message of challenge and hope.

Visitors to CBCNews.ca can find photo galleries, video from past speeches and analysis. Correspondent Henry Champ interacts with Canadians online through analysis of the day and by taking questions. CBCNews.ca also has a full transcript of Obama's speech, available as text or through video on-demand.

11:30 a.m. ET Obama announced at the Capitol's west front.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET Inauguration ceremony:

  • Call to order and welcoming remarks by Senator Dianne Feinstein.
  • Invocation by Rev. Rick Warren.
  • Musical selection by Aretha Franklin.
  • Biden takes oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
  • Musical selection by John Williams, featuring Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill.
  • Obama takes oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
  • Inaugural address.
  • Poem by Elizabeth Alexander.
  • Benediction by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.
  • The national anthem by the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters.

12:35 p.m. ET Departure ceremony for outgoing President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney.

12:45 p.m. ET Signing ceremony in the President's Room in the Capitol.

1:05 p.m. ET Inaugural luncheon at Statuary Hall.

2:20 p.m. ET Review of troops on east front of Capitol.

2:25 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET The 56th inaugural parade travels down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.

8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. ET Obama to appear at 10 inaugural balls, including the Neighbourhood Ball, Home States Ball, Commander-in-Chief Ball, Youth Ball, Biden Home States Ball, Mid-Atlantic Ball, Western Ball, Midwest Ball, Southern Ball and Eastern Ball.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

On CBC Radio

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. (9 NT), on CBC Radio One's The Current — A day after the historic inauguration ceremony for U.S. President Barack Obama, The Current's asking why Canada can't throw a party like that and why we don't try to inspire faith in our political process with our own inaugurations.

9 a.m. ET National prayer service at Washington National Cathedral.