Busboys and Poets’ Peace Ball is taking place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on January 19. (Photo by LaTur)

While supporters of the president-elect are looking forward to celebrating his inauguration in D.C. at official balls and other pro-Trump parties, about 3,000 people are expected to fill the National Museum of African American History and Culture for the Peace Ball: Voices of Hope and Resistance on January 19.

Hosted by Busboys and Poets, it’s one of a handful of late-night soirées taking place in D.C. over inauguration weekend that will represent the overwhelming majority of District residents who didn’t vote for Trump in the presidential election.

“It’s not really an inaugural ball, it’s more of a gathering of folks to have some joy and camaraderie and get energized for, I think, a very long and arduous road ahead of us,” Andy Shallal, owner of Busboys told DCist.

The restaurant has hosted inaugural festivities for the past two presidential elections, and this one has been in the works for quite a while, Shallal says. But after this year’s election night, “there’s been a lot more interest,” and this event is expected to be Busboys’ largest one yet.

Shallal says that hosting it at the Smithsonian’s new museum adds a “very important dimension to the event,” reminding guests of the country’s “incredible amount progress despite some of the bumps that we currently see and have seen.” And all of the museum’s exhibits will be open for viewing.

Nearly two dozen celebrity artists and activists, including Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Danny Glover, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Van Jones, are among the guest list.

These are people who have worked toward making changes on many social and racial issues that have transpired in past years, Shallal says. “There have been a lot of positive things to think about so we wanted to have a celebration of those things and look forward to more activism, resistance, and people standing up for those things that they’ve fought for so long.”

While acknowledging the election and candidate, he continued, “it’s also important to focus on building movements because that’s really what makes change.”

At $200 per person, the event will offer food, an open bar, live entertainment, and dancing. Esperanza Spalding will perform a piece specifically for the event. It’s going to be “quite a spectacular” occasion, Shallal says.

And for a cheaper ticket to an “alternative” inauguration gathering, District residents can party in Chinatown, says Edward Daniels, a local DJ who wanted to offer an event for the people who don’t plan to flee the city for the weekend.

“For me, I’m like if you live here and you may not agree, there’s still a place where you can enjoy the night,” Daniels says, referencing the dance party that’s being hosted by his company, Scorpio Entertainment. The Unity Ball is taking place on January 21 at the District Architecture Center.

The event will feature several DJs, a performance by the all-female rock band “No Small Children,” light fare, an open bar, a retro video game lounge, a photo booth, and more.

There will also be an appearance from Mike Hot Pence—a doppleganger of the vice president-elect who’s been raising money for organizations that support women’s and LGBT rights while pantsless.

After hosting a somber election night watch party at his home in Navy Yard and experiencing tension and confusion around the city in the days after, Daniels says he realized that “I had to do something to help bring calm and restore a bit of sanity for those of us who still be believe in progress and fighting toward equality.”

So using his entertainment resources, he organized an event to bring people of different ages and backgrounds to the table—or rather, to the dance floor. He’s already received a lot of positive responses, he says.

The ball is in partnership with Planned Parenthood of D.C. and Bread for the City, whose representatives will have “a soapbox moment to explain what they do and how we can help,” Daniels says. Part the proceeds from tickets, which range from $35 to $105, will go toward the two organizations.