Great American State Fair: Dinosaur Ribs and Deep Divisions
WASHINGTON — A dinosaur rib cage from Montana. A 7,000-pound sandcastle made with Jersey Shore sand. A Ferris wheel that intermittently breaks down. These are the sights and sounds of the Great American State Fair, a 16-day celebration on the National Mall that was designed to showcase the nation’s diversity ahead of America’s 250th birthday. But for many visitors and organizers alike, the fair has become a mirror reflecting the country’s deep political divisions rather than a unifying celebration.
According to AP News, the fair is run by Freedom 250, an organization created by President Donald Trump via executive order to oversee his administration’s official 250th anniversary events. Its creation immediately caused tension with America250, a congressionally created bipartisan commission established in 2016 to plan the nation’s semiquincentennial.
A Tale of Two Celebrations
The Great American State Fair sits at the center of a broader conflict over how America should celebrate its 250th birthday. America250, the bipartisan commission, is planning a July 4th concert in Los Angeles, a time capsule to be opened in 2276, and community-level events nationwide. Freedom 250, by contrast, is behind high-profile D.C. events including the state fair, a UFC fight on the White House lawn, and the Patriot Games athletic competition.
As USA Today reported, Freedom 250 has faced criticism over funding transparency, with The New York Times reporting in February that the organization was allegedly trading access to Trump for donations. The group has also been accused of almost exclusively highlighting Christianity through its initiatives.
State Participation Becomes a Political Flashpoint
Most states participated in the fair, treating it as a tourism opportunity. But Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Rhode Island, and several other states — concentrated in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest — declined to send delegations, citing costs, scheduling, or politicization concerns. Participating states had to spend at least $100,000 (and in some cases up to half a million dollars) of their own money.
According to NPR, some booths, including those for Hawaii and Alaska, were unstaffed, featuring only rocking chairs that tired visitors put to good use. A Massachusetts retiree, Donna Chobat, drove to D.C. to run the Massachusetts pavilion herself after being disappointed by the state’s absence.
Musician Boycott and Trump Rally
The fair’s troubles began weeks before opening day. After Freedom 250 revealed its concert lineup on May 27, multiple headlining acts — including Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, the Commodores, and Young MC — pulled out, saying they were misled about the event’s non-partisan nature. Martina McBride wrote that she was “greatly upset” that fans might feel she was “abandoning the meaning behind” her songs.
In response, Trump rebranded the opening as an “AMERICA IS BACK Rally” and headlined the event himself, introduced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The Washingtonian described sparse crowds on opening day, with long security lines but few visitors, and a Ferris wheel that experienced generator problems, intermittently halting the ride and melting ice cream supplies.
Visitors Reflect a Divided Nation
Despite the controversies, some visitors found moments of connection. Darren Pasha, a Dupont Circle resident and Kurdish refugee, told the Washington Times that he saw hats supporting Trump, Biden, and even “Make America Gay Again” — yet no one was fighting. “That’s the love I feel right now,” he said.
Others were less optimistic. “There’s nice people, nice events, nice family events,” said Sharyn Bovat, a Florida visitor. “Half the country is divided with the other half. I wish they would create a USA 250 for all the people. I’m tired of the politics.”
Josh White, a Vermont high school history teacher, told NPR he felt the fair was “more of a reflection of how divided we are.” Kelly Domizio, visiting from Rome, New York, who remembered the 1976 Bicentennial, said: “There was a sense of pride and togetherness. We are enjoying the day but it feels forced.”
What’s Next
The fair will continue through July 10, with scheduled events including “MAHA Mondays” and “Faith, Values and Inspiration” programming. Meanwhile, America250 will hold its own July 4th concert in Los Angeles. The competing celebrations raise an open question: In an era of deep polarization, can any national anniversary event truly unite Americans — or will the 250th birthday simply become another battlefield in the nation’s culture wars?
As Alan Zibel, a researcher at Public Citizen, told NPR: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating our 250th anniversary. The important thing is the manner in which it’s being done, and whose stories are being told … and who is doing the telling of the story.”