The Presidential Inaugural Committee has sponsored ten inaugural balls.

Thousands of people are registering to attend inaugural balls in the nation's capital as Barack Obama prepares his transition to the White House. The president-elect plans to host a total of ten inaugural balls, including events for his home states of Hawaii and Illinois, five regional balls and a Youth Inaugural Ball.

"This is America's inaugural celebration in every way," says Emmett Beliveau, the Executive Director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. "Young people are more engaged in this country's future than ever before." The Youth Inaugural Ball is intended for Americans between the ages of 18 and 35.

The Texas State Society plans an inaugural ball of its own, called the "Black Tie and Boots Ball." The society first held the event when Dwight D. Eisenhower took office.

"Nobody does anything quite on the scale of the Texas State Society," says historian Jenifer Sarver. "This time around, the only comparable balls that are getting this much attention are the Illinois and Hawaii Balls."

Sarver says more than 10,000 people have already registered to attend the Black Tie and Boots Ball. Performers include Tracy Byrd, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Kelly Willis.

"Everybody else does balls, but a lot of times they'll have a military band and a bar and some singing and dancing," Sarver adds. "Nobody has the kind of entertainment and set up that we do. We really go all out for the décor and bringing in the Texas artists so people really feel that they're having a Texas experience."
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