Bush inauguration fever hits Washington [View All]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Holiday parties will look tame this year compared with the grand events planned in January for the official inauguration of President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s second term in office.

The US capital is already busy gearing up for the pomp and ceremony. Four days of festivities will culminate January 20 with Bush's swearing in ceremony at the US Congress, his parade to the White House and nine inauguration balls.

The final bill for all the celebrations will be a cool 40 million dollars -- a record in US history -- mostly financed by donations.

Before Christmas, wealthy private donators, industrial, financial and lobby groups, Republicans and Democrats, will have turned in their checks for 50,000 to 250,000 dollars to the inauguration committee tasked with organizing the events.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041225/pl_afp/usbushinauguration_041225165726