President Barack Obama is heading up a National Day of Service at the start of a whirlwind weekend of inaugural events marking the end of his historic first term and the start of his second.

U.S. Capital Building
U.S. Capital Building prepares for President Obama's inauguration (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Obama, joined by first lady Michelle Obama, will seek to set the tone for the weekend with a service event on Saturday. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will also volunteer in the Washington area.

Obama added a day of service projects to the inaugural schedule in 2009, and he's hoping the event becomes a tradition for future presidents.

On Monday, there will be formal balls, an inaugural parade and, of course, the president's address from the steps of the Capitol. The Marching Jaguars from Jackson Memorial High School will march in the inaugural parade.

Republicans lying low for Obama's inauguration

For many Republicans, this is a good weekend to get away from it all.

With hundreds of thousands of Democrats traveling to the nation's capital for President Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremonies, Republicans and supporters of last fall's GOP presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, are leaving town for sunny vacation destinations and company conferences. Some are staying indoors and avoiding the crowds.

After failing to recapture the White House for a second straight presidential election, many Republicans are not exactly in a partying mood.

Republicans say inauguration weekend is a good time to lie low and think about ways of taking back the White House in another four years.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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