91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines 89.9 Chadbourn

Up Next On The Inaugural Agenda: A Virtual 'Parade Across America'

Members of Howard University's marching band walk the abbreviated parade route following the inauguration of President Biden on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.
Stephanie Keith

The traditional inaugural parade was not an option this year, given security fears and the coronavirus pandemic.

So instead, the Biden Inaugural Committee is throwing a "Parade Across America" — a virtual celebration involving dancers, drum lines, singers and athletes from across the United States.

It might sound like a stretch. But the Democratic Party had a surprise hit on its hands when it convened a remote roll call during the Democratic National Convention, which turned out to be more popular than you might have guessed.

The University of Delaware and Howard University, the alma maters of President Biden and Vice President Harris, respectively, did send drum lines that are physically in Washington, D.C., and will perform live. Otherwise, the parade will be remote.

The Parade Across America will be hosted by Tony Goldwyn, and the names in the lineup include Jon Stewart, the reunited New Radicals (of "You Get What You Give" fame), Earth, Wind & Fire and, as the Biden Inaugural Committee puts it, "everyday Americans."

It will also feature figure skaters, Olympians, at least one skateboarder, representatives of every branch of the military, a wheelchair basketball program, a doctor who's big on TikTok, an 80-year-old performer from Idaho, a 12-year-old trumpeter from Georgia, marching bands, flag twirlers, a clogging group, Boy Scouts and a Dance Across America led by Kenny Ortega.

You can view the full lineup here.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Camila Flamiano Domonoske covers cars, energy and the future of mobility for NPR's Business Desk.
More Stories
  1. WATCH: President Biden Speaks In Tel Aviv, Israel
  2. WUNC adds On Point and The Poetry Cafe to program lineup
  3. Watch Live: House Jan. 6 committee holds public hearings on investigation
  4. Here are the key primary runoff election results from Oklahoma
  5. Here are the key primary election results from New York