Here are 5 things to know about Inauguration Day

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday in an inauguration ceremony that, amid violent threats and a deadly pandemic, will look unlike any other.

What’s the schedule of events?

The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. with the playing of the national anthem and an invocation, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in shortly before noon by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. President-elect Biden will be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at noon.

Biden will deliver his inaugural address, then move to the Capitol for the traditional Pass in Review. The Pass in Review, which takes place on the East Front steps and dates back to the first inauguration, is when the incoming president views and assesses a group of military troops.

Who won’t be there?

Well, for one, the outgoing president.

Trump, before he was permanently banned from Twitter last week, announced in a tweet that he would not attend Biden’s inauguration.

“To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,” he wrote.

Trump will be the fourth president not to attend his successor’s inauguration, according to CNBC. The others: John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson.

Trump’s absence will mean some traditional events won’t happen, including the procession to the Capitol. Traditionally, the outgoing president accompanies the president-elect to the Capitol for the start of the ceremony, according to the JCCIC.

Trump also has announced he will hold his own departure from the White House before the inauguration. According to the JCCIC, the outgoing president usually departs from the West Front of the Capitol following the swearing-in ceremonies.

Vice President Mike Pence has indicated he will attend the inauguration.

Beyond Trump, the hundreds of thousands of people who normally crowd the area for the event won’t be there this year. The covid-19 pandemic on its own would have meant no crowds, parades or galas, but the fact that the inauguration comes just two weeks after deadly riots in which thousands surrounded and overtook the U.S. Capitol, spectators are being even more strongly discouraged.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has asked public officials to do what they can to dissuade spectators from coming to the area, a move meant to try to prevent any unrest during the events, according to ABC News.

Who will be there?

Taking the places of crowds of supporters and spectators will be throngs of law enforcement officers on high alert.

As many as 25,000 National Guard members will be on hand, and the FBI has pledged to vet each member in an attempt to prevent an insider attack, according to The Hill.

“We are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter — that’s the best way I would describe it — about a number of events surrounding the inauguration,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a briefing last week.

The National Park Service has shut down the National Mall, and the city has set up miles of barricades, roadblocks and fencing. The Metro system is closing 13 stations, too, according to The Hill.

Only about 1,000 people will attend the inauguration, according to NPR. Most of those will be members of Congress and their guests.

No tickets were offered to the public this year, and legislators can bring only one guest.

Where can I watch?

Livestreaming the presidential inauguration and swearing-in is a relatively new phenomenon. In 1997, Bill Clinton’s second inauguration was the first to be livestreamed online, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Before that, Harry S. Truman was the first to deliver a televised address and, before him, Calvin Coolidge was the first to have his inauguration broadcast via radio.

Now, those wishing to watch the inauguration (the only option, because of pandemic protocols, will be virtually) have an array of options.

All of the television news networks will offer coverage of the events: PBS NewsHour, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Fox and CNN will all offer varying lengths of coverage, most kicking off that morning (though CNN will start coverage at 4 p.m. Tuesday).

Those networks also will stream their coverage on their respective websites, and there are other streaming options as well. YouTube will stream the ceremony for free, as will bideninaugural.org, according to Rolling Stone.

Which artists will perform?

Musical performances are scheduled to include ones by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Lady Gaga, who will sing the national anthem, worked with Biden when he was vice president on a campaign against sexual assault.

Bruce Springsteen, the Foo Fighters and John Legend also are scheduled for remote performances later that evening.

Bruce will join our next President and Vice President @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris for #Inauguration2021! Tune in Wednesday January 20 at 8:30pm ET for a night that celebrates our country's rich diversity and resilience. https://t.co/KbTpyEUkT3

— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) January 15, 2021

Lady Gaga appeared with Biden at a campaign event in Pittsburgh on the eve of Election Day, performing outside Heinz Field.