Gov. Beshear Previews ‘Forward, Together’ Inauguration Day Celebrations

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2023) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear are reminding Kentuckians that the “Forward, Together” 62nd Inauguration Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The Frankfort events include a worship service, parade, the public swearing-in ceremony and the Grand March at the State Capitol. Kentuckians can find more details and ways to watch by visiting Kentucky.gov/inauguration.

“Inauguration Day will be a celebration of the Team Kentucky spirit that moves us Forward, Together,” Gov. Beshear said. “Our health care heroes and public school educators will serve as the parade’s grand marshals, and we’ll have incredible Kentucky artists and community leaders sharing their talents throughout the day.”

At 8:30 a.m. EST, the festivities will begin with a time-honored tradition, as a delegation of Frankfort residents bring country ham, beaten biscuits and white cake to the Beshear family at the Governor’s Mansion. This tradition, which has been followed for more than 100 years, is said to have started when an outgoing first lady left a baked ham, cake and a platter of beaten biscuits on the dining table for the incoming first family.

Also, at 8:30 a.m. EST, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and her family will attend a breakfast reception at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

At 9:30 a.m. EST, there will be an Inaugural Worship Service at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Kentucky families can also watch the Inaugural Worship Service online at facebook.com/1stChristianFrankfort and on YouTube. For those in Frankfort, the Frankfort Plant Board will carry the service on channels 10 and 510.

The Governor and his family, including former Gov. Steve Beshear and former First Lady Jane Beshear, and Lt. Gov. Coleman and her family will then travel from the worship service to the Capitol Avenue bridge, where they will board horse-drawn carriages and travel the inaugural parade route until disembarking at the reviewing stand at the end of the parade.

Kentuckians can watch the inaugural parade, starting at 11 a.m. EST, the public swearing-in ceremony at 2 p.m. EST and the Grand March at 6 p.m. EST on KET or on its website.

The public swearing-in ceremony will feature a musical performance by Tyler Childers and a reading by Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House.

Earlier this week, Gov. Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear announced that Kentuckians attending the inauguration festivities can take advantage of free public parking and a shuttle service.

Due to overwhelming interest and space restrictions, the inaugural ball is a ticked event and is already at capacity.