Inauguration 2013: North Carolina hails a new governor

North Carolinians have waited more than 20 years to dance to a Republican governor, and this year, Raleigh will play host to the first right-wing governor since Jim Martin held the office in 1988.

On January 5th, Gov. Pat McCrory started on the path to the Victorian-style mansion on Blount St., taking the oath of office as the state’s 74th governor in a private ceremony in the old House chamber at the State Capitol.

Though he got a head start on the traditional inaugural activities, McCrory is still expected to participate in the public ceremony and celebration, timed to coincide with the Governor’s Inaugural Ball on Friday evening.

It takes an army of workers and volunteers to pull off the inaugural activities, with more than 400 volunteers working upwards of 21,000 hours, to successfully deploy a series of inaugural events hosted by the Junior League of Raleigh.

“It’s an honor to be able to host these events,” Junior League of Raleigh President, Pat Wilkins, wrote in an e-mail interview. The planning committee is entirely made up of Junior League members, she says, however, “The nights of the events, we will have additional volunteers on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly,”

North Carolina’s newly elected governors have selected the Junior League of Raleigh to serve as the host of the Governor’s Inaugural Ball, since 1933. The Inaugural Ball, which celebrates the Governor and Council of State, serves as a fundraiser for the organization.

Planning for the Inaugural Ball events starts two years before the election even takes place. After the election, the League works with the governor-elect to tailor the events to his or her liking.

Mary Brent Wright, a past-president of the League and Ball chair, has served as a dedicated volunteer for eight Balls. This year, she serves as an honorary chair for the Ball. “Each Ball is different. Each one is unique. All of them are a ton of fun,” she said in an e-mail.

On Friday, Wilkins along with event chairs and volunteers will wrap up months of preparation, at the Raleigh Convention Center, for Friday’s inaugural events to honor the Council of State, Governor Pat McCrory and the state of North Carolina.

Events will include the Governor’s Reception, the formal presentation of the Council of State and Governor and the “pièce de résistance”--Inaugural Ball gala.

The theme for this year’s Inaugural Ball is The Old North State Forever: Preserving our Past, Discovering our Future. Pat Wilkins, affirmed that the Inaugural Ball is a celebration of the Council of State and Governor, as well as the state of North Carolina. “Event attendees will hear, see and taste reflections of our state throughout the evening,” she said.

Attendees will celebrate the state’s top talent with performers including, North Carolina natives, The Avett Brothers and Parmalee.

In a recent statement, Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers said that he was honored to been asked to participate in the event and added that, “Beyond any party affiliation, we wish to serve the state of North Carolina any way we can. We wish Governor Pat McCrory the best of luck through the coming years.”

Besides the headliners, attendees will hear from some special guests via video messages during the presentation. “Expect to see famous faces and local favorites such as Coach K, among others,” said Wilkins.

And the Ball's North Carolina-inspired menu will feature 11 guest chefs from across the state who will be serving favorites – from catfish to spicy collard greens and pulled pork. The decorations, provided by ThemeWorks, will represent North Carolina in the winter.

For those who didn’t snag tickets to the Ball, ABC11 will serve as media partner for the event, producing a live broadcast on ABC11 and online video stream during the Gala Presentation on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 from 8 to 9 p.m. And, there’s a lot more to see and do before, during and after the big events.

As the Junior League of Raleigh and Governor Pat McCrory prepare for the inaugural festivities, a timely exhibit at the N.C. Museum of History explores more than 200 years of gubernatorial history.

This year’s exhibit, Leading the State: North Carolina’s Governors, is free and will run through April 28, 2013.

Filled with artifacts that include personal items, clothing and portraits, the showcase highlights the changes in the office of governor and the role of first spouses and how governors have campaigned and been elected.

The exhibit also features the suit that North Carolina’s first female governor, Beverly Eaves Perdue, wore for her official gubernatorial portrait.

To see what past inaugurations of North Carolina governors were like, the Gubernatorial Inaugurations Flickr page posted by the North Carolina State Archives shows how North Carolina inaugurations were illustrated and photographed throughout the 19th century.

The NC Gubernatorial Inaugurations Photostream photos are from the State Archives collection, and include images used by permission of the News & Observer.

NC INAUGURAL EVENTS:

Friday, January 11, 2013 at 6:00pm

WHO: Governor Pat McCrory

WHAT: Governor’s Reception, Sponsored by the Junior League of Raleigh

WHERE: Raleigh Convention Center Grand Ballroom, 500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Friday, January 11, 2013 at 8:00pm

WHAT: Gala Presentation, Sponsored by the Junior League of Raleigh

WHERE: Raleigh Convention Center Exhibition Hall, 500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Friday, January 11, 2013 at 9:00pm

WHAT: Inaugural Ball, Sponsored by the Junior League of Raleigh

WHERE: Raleigh Convention Center, 500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 11:00am