FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT: ibcommunicationsnc@gmail.com 

CELEBRATE NORTH CAROLINA TO KICK OFF 

NORTH CAROLINA INAUGURAL BALL EVENTS 

Tickets are on sale now for this young professionals event at ncinauguralball.org! 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Join the Junior League of Raleigh for Celebrate North Carolina, a special event for young professionals across the state as we kick off the North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Ball! This celebratory event will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 in Downtown Raleigh at the contemporary art museum, CAM Raleigh, 409 W. Martin Street. 

Attendees will enjoy catered hors d’oeuvres and drinks including local Trophy Brewing craft brews and tastings from Charlotte-based Oaklore Distilling. 

Sleeping Booty, a 12-piece band based in North Carolina, will perform. The high-energy band features a horn section, percussion and multiple lead vocalists. Their musical styles range from Aretha Franklin to ZZ Top. 

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What is the North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Ball?: A celebration of everything that makes North Carolina great, Inaugural Ball events help the Junior League of Raleigh continue its 95-year mission to pioneer and promote programs to support at-risk youth and empower women. 

The Junior League of Raleigh’s tradition of hosting the Governor’s Inaugural Ball dates back to 1933. This event, which celebrates the newly elected Governor and Council of State, helps the League continue its community service tradition by raising much-needed dollars to support projects and programs that benefit North Carolinians.

Through this tradition, the Junior League of Raleigh can achieve its vision of strengthening communities by embracing diverse perspectives, building partnerships, and inspiring shared solutions. 

Proceeds from the nonpartisan Inaugural Ball events are designated to programs that support North Carolinians. 

This year proceeds will benefit Western North Carolina recovery efforts through Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC and The Community Foundation of Western NC. 

Past Inaugural Balls have benefited SAFEchild, Communities in Schools, Heritage Park’s Community Learning Center, and the Boys & Girls Clubs. 

Other scheduled events for the 2025 Inaugural Ball include: 

• The First Lady’s Luncheon, a signature event that celebrates the incoming First Lady, allows women from across the state to gather to show support for the First Lady. This business attire event begins at noon on Friday, Jan. 10 at the North Carolina Museum of Art and is sold out. 
• The Council of State reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. This cocktail reception honors the 10 elected executive offices of the Council of State. 
• The Gala Presentation, a grand and formal affair, is an hour-long celebration that formally presents the newly elected Governor and Council of State. This black-tie event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Venture Hall at the Marbles Kids Museum on Saturday, Jan. 11, immediately preceding the Inaugural Ball. 
• The Inaugural Ball will begin in Marbles Kids Museum on Saturday, Jan. 11, as the Gala Presentation concludes. Guests attending this black-tie affair must have a valid photo ID to enter. The ticket price includes beer, wine, and food. 

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ncinauguralball.org! 

Sponsorships are also available by contacting ibsponsor@jlraleigh.org. 

About the Junior League of Raleigh: 

The Junior League of Raleigh is a local chapter of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. To learn more about the Junior League of Raleigh, visit jlraleigh.org.