The Isiserettes, Des Moines drumline, featured in virtual Biden inauguration parade

Iowans saw some familiar faces — and music — at the inauguration celebrations in the virtual parade Wednesday.

Due to COVID-19, the usual festivities around the inauguration of a new president were halted to avoid large, in-person gatherings. Instead, President-elect Joe Biden steps into the highest office was celebrated through a virtual parade Wednesday afternoon.

All 50 states were represented in the parade, and the Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corps are representing Iowa in the online performance.

The Isiserettes have experience with this sort of event — both as performers for an inauguration parade, and as supporters for the incoming administration. In 2019, the Des Moines-based drumline supported then-U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris at the Polk County Steak Fry leading up to the 2020 caucuses.

The group has also performed in support of Biden, in the form of parades chiming in his tenure as vice president. In 2009 and 2013, the Isiserettes played in Washington D.C. celebrating former President Barack Obama's inauguration.

While the Isiserettes are not in the nation's capital for this celebration, other drumlines are still providing Biden and Harris a cavalcade. Howard University and University of Delaware's drumlines, from the two elected officials' alma maters, accompanied the presidential escort Wednesday as they travel from the U.S. Capitol to the Arlington National Cemetery to the White House.

The inauguration and subsequent performances qwew streamed live on the Biden Inaugural Committee's YouTube channel. The swearing-in ceremony and parade were shown online and televised; Afterwards, the Tom Hanks hosted a 90-minute “Celebrating America” program in lieu of the traditional inaugural ball starting at 7:30 p.m. central time, available on NBC, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN and online.

Robin Opsahl covers trending news for the Register. Reach them at ropsahl@registermedia.com or 515-284-8051.