It’s officially less than a month until a new Governor is seated in Trenton for the first time since 2017. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill will be inaugurated on January 20 in Newark, NJ. However, it’s not just her non-traditional inauguration that’s making headlines. Just hours after she’s sworn in, the new governor will hold an inaugural ball at American Dream Mall to celebrate.
Can you think of anything more Jersey than that?
The $350 per person, black-tie event is scheduled for the evening of January 20 and is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees. Proceeds will go to Mission to Deliver NJ, a nonprofit advocacy group aligned with Sherrill’s policy priorities.
The ball will be held on American Dream’s indoor ice rink, with the ice covered for the occasion. American Dream is the state’s largest shopping mall and the second-largest in the country.
Event organizers say the ball will highlight New Jersey’s history and cultural diversity. Food and entertainment will represent all 21 counties. Both names of New Jersey’s most debated breakfast meat will be served, assuring that North Jersey and South Jersey residents alike are more than welcome to attend.
A former congresswoman, Sherrill will become the second woman to serve as governor of New Jersey. Her inauguration earlier that day will take place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, marking a departure from 235 years of New Jersey governors swearing in at the state’s capital in Trenton.
Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in November to replace outgoing Governor Phil Murphy, who is term-limited. She will take office alongside Lieutenant Governor-elect Dale Caldwell, a former university president.
The choice to hold the inaugural ball at American Dream has not been universally welcomed. Critics point to the mall’s long development history, financial disputes, and environmental concerns tied to the Meadowlands site. However, supporters argue the setting reflects the modern identify New Jersey and has become a major destination, not just within the state, but within the region at large.
Love it or hate it, Sherrill is drawing attention before taking office. A non-traditional inauguration, followed by a black-tie ball at a megamall, signals a break from convention that feels unmistakably New Jersey.
Interested in attending the Inaugural Ball? Buy tickets here
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.