While the nation’s capital celebrates President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration with a night of fancy balls, supporters in South Portland will be having a ball at the House of Pizza on Cottage Road.

Hosted by a pair of Democratic activists, the fountain drinks and coffee will be free and flowing from 8-10 p.m., as well-wishers watch the beltway bashes on the restaurant’s TV.

The House of Pizza, at 433 Cottage Road, is providing a place for people to celebrate, but it also will be open for business as usual.

“We’ll watch the big Washington parties on TV while we eat cheese and crackers and sip soda or coffee,” said attorney and longtime activist Dan Mooers, who is co-hosting the community celebration with Darcy Halvorsen, chairwoman of the Cumberland County Democrats. Mooers and Halvorsen are South Portland residents.

South Portland Mayor Tom Blake is just one of many high-profile area Democrats expected to stop in for the family event. Maine Sen. Larry Bliss, Rep. Terry Morrison, City Councilor Patti Smith former Councilor David Jacobs also may drop by.

The fountain drinks and coffee will be free with any menu order at the House of Pizza, which is located near the Cape Elizabeth line. The event is described as very informal.

“Jan. 20 will be the new dawn for America. The swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America is a reason to celebrate and we plan to do just that,” Mooers stated in the e-mailed invitations.

The South Portland party – which Mooers described as “dutch treat” – is among 3,000 beyond-the-Beltway parties being held in conjunction with Civic.MoveOn.org.

MoveOn, which promotes grassroots organizing, sent out a notice to members, encouraging people to host celebrations in their communities. The celebrations are not political functions. The South Portland bash is open to the public, with families invited to attend.

“I think a lot of people will drop by and say hello,” said Mooers, who’s held posts in city and county Democratic organizations. “A lot of people made new friends during the campaign. This is a way for people to re-connect and get together.”

Obama is scheduled to be sworn in at noon on Jan. 20, with parades and parties to follow throughout the day and night. Halvorsen said she plans to watch the swearing-in at the Asylum in Portland, where the Maine Democratic Party is hosting a celebration.

“A lot of the Portland-area activists will be in D.C. for the inauguration, so this is a nice event for people here to attend to recognize this momentous occasion,” Halvorsen said. “It’s going to be a mob scene in D.C. I don’t want to be standing outside in 25-degree weather, when I can watch it on TV.”

Halvorsen said she used Facebook.com, the online social network, to invite fellow residents from South Portland to attend. “It’s just kind of fun,” she said.

At the South Portland House of Pizza, post card invitations are available at the counter, with details of the event. The post card shows a photo of Obama, with the message “Together we made history… Celebrate the inauguration of the 44th president.”