ON POLITICS

What time is the inauguration on Friday? See full schedule of events

Frank Pompa
USA TODAY

On Friday, thousands of Americans will be on the National Mall and many more will be watching via live TV when Vice President-elect Mike Pence and President-elect Donald Trump take their oaths of office. Official proceedings, beginning at noon on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will culminate with the new president’s inaugural address to the nation.

A look at what to expect on Friday and Saturday:

Getting to and from events on Friday

Visitors should expect long lines and cloudy, rainy weather for outdoor events. Dress warm, wear comfortable shoes and bring water and snacks. Limited parking, road closures and a vehicle-restricted zone will make driving into Washington a nightmare. Using the region's Metro mass transit system is highly recommended. Metro's hours on Inauguration Day are 4 a.m.-midnight, with rush-hour service and peak fares until 9 p.m. For maps, details and updates go to: wmata.com

The main event

6 a.m.: Security gates open, allowing attendees to access viewing areas west of the Capitol.

8:30 a.m.: Trump, Pence, their Cabinet nominees and their families and friends will attending a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church.

9:30 a.m.: Trump, Pence and their families will attend a tea hosted by President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on the South Portico of the White House.

10 a.m.: Obama and Vice President Biden will escort their successors to the Capitol for the inauguration.

11 a.m.: The inauguration program begins.

Noon: Pence will be sworn in as vice president, followed by Trump's oath of office as president. Trump will then deliver his inaugural address.

Tickets are required for special viewing, but there will be plenty of public viewing space with giant video screens and audio systems scattered throughout the Mall. Reserved-seating and standing-area ticket holders access the west side of the Capitol through an entry and security screening point that matches the color of their ticket. You will be required to show a photo ID.

The procession and parade

Following the ceremony, Congress will host a luncheon for the honorees inside the Capitol.

Then, the presidential procession and inaugural parade will offer another chance to catch a glimpse of the new president up close. If you don't have one of a limited number of bleacher seat reservations, viewing from the sidewalk along Pennsylvania Avenue is free and unreserved. There is expected to be more than 8,000 participants representing 40 organizations, from high school bands to veterans groups.

Inaugural ball celebrations

Evening celebrations include both official and unofficial balls scattered across the District. The president, vice president and their families will attend the official Inaugural Ball event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Tickets are required for the official 7 p.m. event, but if you don't have one of those, you can buy tickets to unofficial ball celebrations around town hosted by an array of organizations.

Saturday's National Prayer Service

An interfaith prayer service, a tradition that began with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first inauguration in 1933, will take place at Washington’s National Cathedral beginning at 10 a.m.

There is a prayer breakfast scheduled at the new Trump International Hotel in Washington on Friday morning, but that is not an official inaugural event and is not open to the public (or the press).

Your USA TODAY inauguration reading list

Get caught up on inauguration news and analysis:

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Stay with USA TODAY for full coverage of the 2017 inauguration.

Contributing: Gregory Korte. Sources: U.S. Secret Service; washington.org; 58th Presidential Inauguration Committee; 58pic2017.org; USA TODAY research