Who hosts the Governor’s Inaugural Ball?

The Governor’s Inaugural Ball is planned by volunteers from the Junior League of Raleigh (JLR).

Are there other events in addition to a Ball?

The 2009 Ball weekend features a wide variety of festivities. The full schedule includes:
Council of State Reception
Rock the Ball Concert
Governor-elect’s Reception
Gala Presentation
Inaugural Ball

How do I purchase tickets?

Invitations to Inaugural Ball events will be mailed in November. Ticket purchases will be available online soon so please check back.

What should I wear?

The Inaugural Ball is a formal event. Ladies wear long dresses or skirts and gentlemen wear tuxedos. Cocktail attire is appropriate for the Council of State Reception and all other events, except the Friday evening Rock the Ball concert, which is casual.

What accommodations are available near the events?

Adjoining the Raleigh Convention Center is a new four-star Marriott Hotel, with 400 well-appointed rooms. Less than one block away, the Sheraton Hotel offers 355 rooms.  Still in downtown but closer to the State Capitol is the Clarion Hotel, with 200 rooms. Please click on the accommodation link above to review the entire list of hotels where the Junior League of Raleigh has blocked rooms for the Inaugural Ball weekend festivities.

Is parking plentiful in downtown Raleigh?

A 900-space parking garage is attached to the Raleigh Convention Center. In addition, there are more than 4,000 parking spaces within a two-block radius of the center.

Will there be food and beverages at the various events?

Heavy hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks, and a cash bar will be available at the Council of State Reception, Governor-elect’s Reception and the Inaugural Ball. The Inaugural Ball will also feature guest chefs from across North Carolina along with a cash bar. The Rock the Ball concert will offer cash bars serving beer and wine.

Where will proceeds from the Inaugural Ball go?

This year, following extensive research on community needs, proceeds from the 2009 Inaugural Ball will benefit the Center for Community Leadership, the League’s gift to the North Carolina community. This new Center will offer a wide variety of training programs, shared meeting space and networking opportunities to non-profit organizations throughout the state. It will help other non-profits better serve their communities and enable the League to strengthen its existing programs and services. In addition to the new Center for Community Leadership, a portion of proceeds from the Inaugural Ball will be used to continue to fund JLR’s community grants.

What projects have past Inaugural Balls benefited?

Past Inaugural Ball proceeds have benefitted many worthy organizations serving at risk children, including hospitals and other health agencies, public school programs, community centers and child abuse agencies. Some organizations have been local to Wake County while others have been statewide in scope.

Notable projects include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County, North Carolina Smart Start, Communities in Schools of North Carolina, Heritage Park Community Learning Center and Natural Learning Initiatives, and SAFEchild, the Junior League of Raleigh’s signature project.