The Democratic Parties of South Carolina and New Hampshire will jointly celebrate the historic inauguration of President- elect Barack Obama and Vice- President elect Joe Biden with a Grits and Granite Inaugural Ball Tuesday, January 20, 2009, from 9 pm until 1 am, at the Fort Myer Officer's Club in Arlington, Virginia.

Citizens of South Carolina and New Hampshire, along with Americans from across the United States, will come together to celebrate the inauguration of the first American of African descent to be elected as our national Commander- in- Chief.

Attending guests will be treated to four hours of star- studded live entertainment provided by the legendary Skipp Pearson, South Carolina's official Ambassador of Jazz, along with a host of master musicians including: trumpeters Dick Goodwin and Fred Wesley, clarinetist Pete Neighbour, percussionist Sonny Thornton, saxophonist Shellie Thomas, and featured vocal performers Loretta Holloway, on- air personality Tré Tailor, and Lorie Rivers.

Attendees will include the Honorable James. E. Clyburn, Congressman from South Carolina's 6th District and Democratic Majority Whip; Representative John Spratt, Congressman from South Carolina's 5th District; the Honorable John Lynch, governor of the state of New Hampshire; United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire; and South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex; in addition to other local, regional, national and international leaders from the civic and business communities.

For logistics, registration procedures, security protocols, and information concerning tickets, please contact Lindsey Maxwell of the South Carolina Democratic Headquarters at (803) 799-7798 or at lmaxwell@scdp.org.