Millions of tourists and Washington residents will be able to party all night long in the US capital during the January inauguration with local bars set to stay open around the clock.
"We've never done this before, this is the first time," said Washington Councilman Jim Graham, who proposed the measure which was passed by the city council on Wednesday.
Bars here must usually close at 2:00 am weekdays and 3:00 am on weekends. But from January 17 through 20, bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be able to serve alcohol until 5:00 am and food 24 hours a day.
"There is a different expectation of popular presence. We are just expecting a lot more people than what we had in the past," Graham added.
"There is a special kind of enthusiasm for Barack Obama that we have not seen in my lifetime."
Washington police are bracing for as many as five million people to show up on the National Mall, a grassy strip of land leading to the Capitol, where the Democratic president-elect will be sworn in on January 20.
The anticipated crowd could also reap big profits for local business. "We also want our local small businesses to have the benefit of what is going to be an historic celebration," Graham said.
Politicos of all stripes are now certain they can either have a ball all night long or drown their sorrows.
