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Pre-inauguration events will kick off tonight in Columbia, as the state Republican Party and some of its winning candidates hold celebratory events prior to Gov. Mark Sanford's second oath-taking Wednesday morning.

The biggest bash -- the GOP's "Inaugural Ball" -- will pry Sanford away from fine-tuning his inaugural speech and into a tuxedo for a black tie dinner-dance well laced with the formality he so abhors.

It's scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m., beginning with a procession led by Charleston's Washington Light Infantry and a piper, followed by Sanford, the seven other Republican constitutional officers and GOP legislators.

Ticket prices range from $150 for individuals to $10,000 for an "inaugural sponsor."

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The more than 500 guests will dine on pulled pork with silver dollar rolls, pepper crusted roast top of the round, vegetable crudits display, crab cakes with lime and tomato salsa, pecan crusted chicken tenders with honey mustard, and shrimp and grits.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer will host an 8 p.m. event at 912 Lady St., and Treasurer-elect Thomas Ravenel will hold a reception at the Capital City Club, beginning at 7 p.m. Both are expected to participate in the Inaugural Ball, briefly skipping out on their events.

Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom will sponsor a 7 a.m. Wednesday breakfast at the Clarion Town House on Gervais Street, and Attorney General Henry McMaster will host a post-inauguration luncheon at the Palmetto Club on Sumter Street.

Democrats again came out on the short end of most of November's vote tallies, but they will have an opportunity to celebrate Jim Rex's defeat of Karen Floyd for the state education superintendent's office being vacated by retiring Democrat Inez Tenenbaum.

Rex is hosting a "Celebration of Our Public Schools,' beginning with a 6 p.m. reception at the State Museum on Gervais Street and 7 p.m. event at the nearby EdVenture Children's Museum, featuring South Carolina author Pat Conroy.

The "Celebration" will cost from $50 for guests to $3,500 for headline sponsors.