Workers continue to build the Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall on May 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. The fair, in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, will run from June 25 to July 10, 2026.

...

Alia Shoaib

By Alia Shoaib

Reporter

0

Share

Newsweek is a Trust Project member

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

At least seven U.S. states have said they will not participate in President Donald Trump’s “Great American State Fair,” an event tied to celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

Officials from Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington have said they will not have a display at the Trump-backed event, which is being staged on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., starting June 25. Several state officials cited cost concerns as the reason for not participating, while one said the event was becoming more partisan than initially expected.

The fair was meant to be a unifying centerpiece of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, with pavilions from all 50 states and territories showcasing their culture and heritage. But with multiple states now declining to participate, many led by Democratic governors, the event is exposing the political divisions shaping the wider semiquincentennial celebrations.

Read More on U.S.

Newsweek contacted Freedom 250, the nonprofit organizing the event, via email on Friday for comment.

What Is the Great American State Fair?

The Great American State Fair is a 16-day national exposition held on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10. The fair is being organized by Freedom 250, the Trump-aligned nonprofit behind several semiquincentennial events.

It is intended to feature themed pavilions from all 50 states and U.S. territories, alongside entertainment, food exhibits, military displays, and attractions such as a 110-foot Ferris wheel. Some of the proposed pavilions, according to Freedom 250, include a minigolf course for South Carolina, a replica of the Alamo for Texas, a mechanical milking cow for Michigan, and a virtual-reality rodeo experience for Wyoming.

What To Know

At least seven states have confirmed they will not send official delegations to the fair, according to multiple reports.

The states reportedly not sending delegations are:

CNN reported that Freedom 250 paid to build each booth and pavilion, while participating states are responsible for funding the design and decoration of their exhibits.

Luke Harkin, a spokesperson for Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, told CNN that the state would not be participating due to “both the cost of participating in the Fair and growing concerns that the event in Washington D.C. is shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented.”

An Oregon official told CNN that a $70,000 shipping cost was “substantially” higher than expected.

Workers build the Great American State Fair on the National Mall on May 28 in Washington, D.C.

...

Michele Walker, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said in a statement per USA Today that the state would not be partaking "due to the expenditures required" and that the state’s “limited resources” would be focused on in-state celebrations.

Cathryn Vaulman, director of communications for Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, said in a statement per USA Today that the decision came down to “resources” as “the federal government has asked states to foot the bill to participate, including staffing a multiweek exhibition."

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said in an interview with Boston's GBH News earlier this month that it was “ridiculous” that the Trump administration "wants to charge us" to participate in the event.

Officials from Massachusetts, Illinois and Washington also told CNN they would not be participating. NOTUS reported that Maine officials told them they will also not be sending a delegation. Pennsylvania remains undecided, while Maryland has confirmed participation after initially being uncertain, according to NOTUS.

The event has also been disrupted by broader controversy, including a wave of performers withdrawing from a planned opening concert series amid concerns about the event's political associations, prompting Trump to replace the concert with a rally-style opening ceremony.

A spokesperson for Freedom 250 told CNN that even if any states and territories do not send a delegation, they will still be represented in some way.

“Whether represented by a governor’s office, a tourism board, or a beloved state company or organization, every community will be celebrated,” they said.

The Peoria Riverfront Museum in Illinois has volunteered to represent the state at the fair, with a state official telling CNN that the museum did not use state funds for participation costs.

Social Media Scrutiny Over Attendance

Images and videos circulating online have added a new layer of controversy to the fair’s rollout, with posts showing sparse crowds, empty exhibit spaces and short entry lines. While attendance figures have not been formally released, the visuals have fueled criticism that the fair is struggling to attract visitors during its opening days.

An aerial view of the U.S. Capitol behind the 110-foot "Freedom 250" Ferris wheel on the third day of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall as seen from the Washington Monument on June 27 in Washington, D.C.

...

Some posts, shared by commentators across the political spectrum, depict wide stretches of the National Mall with only a handful of attendees visible. Others show performers singing to largely empty rooms or panoramic shots from the Ferris wheel revealing minimal foot traffic below. These images have quickly gained traction, amassing hundreds of thousands of views and becoming a focal point of discussion around the event’s early reception.

Dean Cain, a Trump supporter who is best known for playing Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, shared a photo on X that highlighted the event’s sparse attendance. Cain wrote in a post that has been viewed 1.2 million times, "View from atop the Ferris Wheel at the Great American State Fair." In the photo, few people are seen below. Cain later said that anyone questioning the fair's attendance numbers was "anti-American."

Acyn Torabi, a senior digital editor at the anti-Trump outlet MeidasTouch, posted a Fox News clip in which panelists said the fair drew "thousands of people," though the lawn area looked largely empty.

Supporters of the fair have pushed back, arguing that the images represent selective moments rather than the overall turnout. Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner highlighted photos from Rodeo 250 that showed a sizable crowd.

Visitors inspect the exhibitions at the Great American State Fair on June 26 in Washington, D.C.

...

Meanwhile, the president has continued to praise the fair publicly, calling it "packed with happy people" and dismissing negative depictions as politically motivated.

The contrasting narratives—empty fairgrounds on social media versus official claims of robust attendance—underscore how the event has become a flash point in the broader political tensions surrounding the semiquincentennial celebrations.

More festivities are planned through July 10, with a July 4 "Salute to America" event featuring fireworks.

Update 6/30/26, 9:26 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

View 0 Comments

Request Reprint & Licensing

Submit Correction

View Editorial & AI Guidelines