Trump Inauguration
Preparations are finalized on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, where Donald Trump will be sworn in as America's 45th president, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 15, 2017. Reuters/Mike Theiler

Washington, D.C., is set to be a hotbed of activity Friday, with tens of thousands expected to protest alongside those wanting to be there in person to witness the start of Donald Trump’s term as president. For many of the events, people can just show up on the day, but in order to get within a half-mile of the ceremony a ticket will be required.

Tickets are free but are only available by contacting a person's senator or House representative. In total, nearly 250,000 tickets were distributed Jan. 5 to members of Congress by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Each ticket is color-coded corresponding to a particular entry point to the Capitol grounds.

Finding the contact info for a senator and House member is often straightforward.

Although Trump may be entering the Oval Office with a record-low approval rating, getting a ticket to his inauguration, particularly at this late stage, will be very tough. With demand exceeding supply, many members of Congress, while accepting applications online, have been holding lotteries to determine who gets a ticket.

But failing to get a ticket through congress doesn't prevent taking part in the experience. Tickets will not be required to watch the swearing-in ceremony, which will begin at 11:30 a.m.ET, from the National Mall.

An estimated 1.8 million people attended President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009.

Getting a little closer to the action can also still be achieved for those willing to get out their wallets. Although it may contravene the spirit of the event, tickets are being sold on Craigslist, Facebook and other websites, such as StageFrontTickets.com.

The good news is that these tickets may not be nearly as expensive as in the past. On Craigslist Thursday, while some tickets were going for $500, others were available for as little as $50. It appears secondary ticket brokers may be feeling the pinch from Trump’s lack of popularity.

One New York City resident purchased tickets second-hand for $700, assuming he would be able to turn a healthy profit. Instead, he has struggled to find a taker.

"Nobody wants to buy them," Yossi Rosenberg told the New York Daily News. "It looks like I'm stuck with them, I might even have to go."

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