Gov. Blagojevich announces tickets now available for "Celebrate! Illinois 2007" Inaugural Ball

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that tickets are now available for the "Celebrate! Illinois 2007" Inaugural Ball on January 8^th.  The Ball, an Inaugural tradition, will highlight the people, communities, traditions, inventions and resources that make Illinois so unique.  The Ball will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Exposition Building in Springfield.  The Governor, First Lady and Constitutional Officers will join together to celebrate Illinois' rich heritage.  Tickets are available to the public for the Inaugural Ball, as well as the Inaugural Swearing-In ceremony, through Ticketmaster.  People can visit www.celebrateillinois2007.com for the latest information including a schedule of the day's events.

 

"The Inaugural Ball is the perfect time to celebrate the people, communities and traditions that make our state so special - the butter cow at the State Fair, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Route 66, soybeans, coal, wine, peaches, and everything else that makes us what we are.  We will not only celebrate four more years of making things better for working families and communities - we'll honor these communities, their contributions and achievements," Gov. Blagojevich said.

 

The Celebrate! Illinois 2007 Inaugural Ball is black-tie optional.  A limited number of tickets are available to the public at a cost of $35 per person.  Tickets available online at Ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets.  To charge tickets by phone, call 312-902-1500.

 

A limited number of free tickets for the Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony are also available to the general public.  Tickets are available only through Ticketmaster in-store ticket outlets.  There is a limit of two tickets per person for the Inaugural Ceremony, and tickets must be picked up in person.  A $1 per ticket service charge will apply.  Ticket orders for the Ceremony will not be taken by phone or online.

 

The "Celebrate! Illinois" theme will be brought to life with sixteen banners decorating the room that highlight Illinois' contributions in Athletics, Food and Beverages, Culture, Architecture, Historical Figures, Landmarks, Agriculture, Inventions, Toys and Candy.  Some of the noteworthy Illinois people, communities, traditions, inventions and resources that will be celebrated include: the Rockford Peaches, the Twinkie, Illinois wine, the world's largest ketchup bottle, the butter cow, the blues, the Dana Thomas House, the skyscraper, coal, John Deere, Brachs and the Star Bright mint, the ferris wheel, Route 66 and Abraham Lincoln.

 

Gift bags available to guests will contain donated items from companies and organization around the state that represent past and present Illinois contributions, including Wrigley mints, Frontier League baseball caps, Frank Lloyd Wright postcards, Chicago Architecture Foundation maps, Southern Illinois University fans, Northern Illinois University ticket vouchers, Navy Pier mugs and tote bags, Sears Tower Skydeck pins, Hostess Twinkies, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum pens, John G. Shedd Aquarium postcards, Caterpillar Inc. key chains, and The Art Institute of Chicago pens. Gift bags will also contain a commemorative memento poster that will feature pictures of all sixteen-themed banners.

 

Attendees will be entertained by the Chicago band, Gentleman of Leisure.  In addition to general food and beverages from a local Springfield caterer, there will be wine and cheese stations from Illinois Wineries statewide.  Flowers for the event will be provided by a local Springfield event design company.

 

The 2007 Inaugural schedule is as follows:

For more detailed information about ticket sales, events and locations, please visit the Web site at www.celebrateillinois2007.com.