While he may have made his name in the business industry with extravagant hotels and the reality TV show “Celebrity Apprentice,” Donald Trumps’ inauguration as the 45^th President of the United States scheduled for Friday, January 20^th is generating curiosity across the nation.  

Like those before him, Trump’s special day will  consist of taking his oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.  Trump will say the oath over a Bible his  mother gave him in 1955 as well as Lincoln’s Bible, which was also used by President Obama.

After the main inaugural event, Trump will attend three official inaugural balls. James and Dolly Madison were the first presidential couple to host an inaugural ball, with 400 people in attendance.  Andrew Jackson was the first president to invite the public to attend a reception after he took the oath of office ceremony.   The rowdy crowd did several thousand dollars worth of damage to the White House before they were coaxed outside.  The glamour and glitz of inaugural celebrity galas is traced back to 1934, when Warner Brothers’ studio sent a busload of stars to Franklin Roosevelt’s first inauguration. 

In the ensuing years, celebrity performer’s have become the norm at inaugural events, however, several stars (including Elton John, KISS and Celine Dion) allegedly declined  invitations to perform on Friday.

As of right now, country music star Toby Keith, rock group 3 Doors Down, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, singer Jackie Evancho and the Radio City Rockettes  are among those scheduled to perform.

According to Fox News, Trump’s inaugural committee has claimed they are “intentionally avoiding top entertainers.” “We’re fortunate in that we have the greatest celebrity in the world, which is the president-elect,” Tom Barrack, inaugural committee chairman, told Fox at Trump Tower in New York last week.

“People are pouring into Washington in record numbers,” Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday. “Bikers for Trump are on their way. It will be a great Thursday, Friday and Saturday!”

Officials are expecting around 800,000 spectators for the event – a significant step down from the estimated 1.8 million who attended the 2009 inauguration.

According to Fox source Brian Balogh, co-host of American history radio shows BackStory, “What is most likely to distinguish Trump’s inauguration is the number of protesters.”

On Saturday, the National Mall will draw what organizers estimate to be about 200,000 people to a Women’s March to protest Trump and bring attention to various human and civil rights issues. The protest is expected to be one of the largest in recent history.