Hundreds of organizers plan every moment of Inauguration Day with a mock rehearsal on a huge 60ft floor map of Washington

  • Inaugural planners planted themselves in front of a giant 60-by-40-foot floor map of Washington on Wednesday
  • It was a daylong rehearsal of how Inauguration Day 2017 will play out
  • They're looking to game out every scenario for a day that should be all about the peaceful transfer of power and not pesky mix-ups
  • America's Got Talent star Jackie Evancho said she'll be singing the national anthem at the January 20 swearing-in 

Hundreds of inaugural planners planted themselves in front of a giant 60-by-40-foot floor map of Washington on Wednesday for a daylong rehearsal of how each moment of Inauguration Day 2017 will play out.

These are not people who like surprises: They're looking to game out every scenario for a day that should be all about the peaceful transfer of power and not pesky mix-ups.

With many inaugural plans still taking shape, America's Got Talent star Jackie Evancho said she'll be singing the national anthem at the January 20 swearing-in, a role Beyonce performed in 2013. 

Scroll down for video 

A model of the White House is displayed on a giant planning map during a media tour highlighting inaugural preparations being made by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region for military and civilian planners

Inaugural planners are looking to game out every scenario for a day that should be all about the peaceful transfer of power and not pesky mix-ups

Pictured is a model of the Capitol Building included on the planning map 

Trump's communications director for the inaugural committee tweeted that 16-year-old Evancho is 'an inspiration for all Americans'.

'It's going to be awesome,' Evancho told NBC's Today show.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee is sorting through applications from 200 groups hoping to march in the inaugural parade. 

Don't look for any high school marching bands from the District of Columbia in that stack, though. 

A model of the Old Post Office, now Trump International Hotel, is visible on the map

News photographers take photos of the model of the Capitol Building in this Wednesday photo

WRC-TV reported Wednesday that no city public schools applied, although D.C. schools have marched in the last five inaugural parades.

Wednesday's rehearsal was sponsored by the military, which provides 13,000 active duty and National Guard members to help with inaugural events, including the swearing-in ceremony, parade, protests, balls and movement of an anticipated 800,000 spectators.

What keeps these inaugural planners up at night?

The weather, for one thing.

Directional signs are displayed on the map in the lead-up to Inauguration Day

Wednesday's rehearsal was sponsored by the military, which provides 13,000 active duty and National Guard members to help with inaugural events

Members of the media interview officials on the inaugural preparations being made by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region for military and civilian planners

'I put the chaplain on this task,' joked Maj. Gen. Bradley Becker, commander of the joint task force providing military ceremonial support for inaugural events. 

'He has guaranteed us a beautiful, 40-degree, clear and very nice day.'

Just in case, though, each military participant comes to Washington with three uniforms designed for different kinds of weather.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee is sorting through applications from 200 groups hoping to march in the inaugural parade

Classical crossover singer Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old singer from the Pittsburgh suburbs, has been chosen to sing the national anthem at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration (2014 photo)

President-elect Donald Trump is pictured at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Friday 

Beyond that, there's the matter of Donald Trump. Will this most unconventional president-elect go all-in for the traditional pomp and ceremony that has long been associated with Inauguration Day?

'There's only so many ways you can make this thing happen,' says Brig. Gen. George Degnon, deputy commanding general for the inauguration. 

'Generally speaking, the inauguration is taking shape as it has in the past.'

Degnon added that military planners working side by side with Trump's team at the Presidential Inaugural Committee have gotten no indication that he wants to break sharply with inaugural traditions. 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now