What we know about Trump’s Great American State Fair
By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Julia Benbrook, CNN
(CNN) — The Trump administration’s 16-day-long Great American State Fair is offering visitors to the National Mall in Washington, DC the chance to visit pavilions showcasing every US state and territory.
President Donald Trump first teased the project, a modern World’s Fair, on the campaign trail in 2023. Three years later, the idea has come to life, with military flyovers, movie screenings and a giant 110-foot Ferris wheel on the packed schedule. Trump’s stamp will be evident, including a scaled-down replica of Trump’s proposed 250-foot “triumphal arch.”
“This is the beginning of the golden age of America,” Trump declared at the fair kick off on Wednesday evening.
Who is putting on the fair?
The 16-day-long festival is organized by Freedom250, a Trump-aligned nonprofit that has organized a plethora of 250th-anniversary events backed by the president, such as the Rededicate 250 prayer event on the National Mall in May. An IndyCar Race in Washington and the Patriot Games, a youth athletic contest where two teenaged victors will split a $250,000 prize, will take place in August.
Is there an entry fee?
The fair is free. Freedom250 has encouraged those who plan to attend to RSVP.
What states will be there?
All 50 states plus the US’ territories are represented, but several states are not directly taking part. Participating states sought sponsors, donations or state funding to decorate their booths.
Officials from Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, North Carolina and Connecticut told CNN they declined to organize booths for their state, citing limited finances. Groups have volunteered to represent the states that did not send state delegations, such as North Carolina, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
While officials said their states’ decisions were largely due to costs, a spokesperson for Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, shared concerns that the event was “shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented.”
What will the pavilions look like?
Until July 10, large white tents decorated with neoclassical columns will house dozens of state pavilions featuring interactive experiences designed to represent each state’s culture, heritage and natural landscapes.
Arizona’s pavilion is popular at the fair, and takes visitors through a “sensory journey,” explained Paul Behnen, creative director at Off Madison Ave, the advertising agency that helped the Arizona Office of Tourism design the display.
“You start with the warm, cathedral light in Antelope Canyon,” he told CNN before the fair kicked off. “Then you transition into the cool, dappled light of a Ponderosa pine forest. And lastly, you wander into a Sonoran Desert nightscape, where blacklights subtly illuminate stars and saguaro cactuses.”
In Montana, visitors can explore a fossil-digging station. Florida’s pavilion showcases the state’s citrus industry and include a mini-golf putting green.
Oklahoma’s pavilion replicates the smells of the prairie and aims to use lighting to show the transition from a sunrise to dark evening. Fans will also be placed throughout the tent to evoke the lyrics –“where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain.” – from the musical “Oklahoma!”
“We really wanted to focus on dispelling some preconceived notions about Oklahoma and getting people to see all the diversity and wonderful experiences we have to offer in our state,” Amy Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, told CNN.
What kind of attractions are available?
The fairgrounds also include a daily reminder of the American West. There are rodeo shows featuring precision-riding demonstrations and traditional Mexican charro performances. Visitors can also participate in meet-and-greets with American Miniature Therapy Horses.
Meanwhile, Freedom 250’s mobile museums, known as the Freedom Trucks, tell the story of America’s founding using AI-generated videos and artwork. They feature content from Hillsdale College, a Christian liberal arts school in Michigan, and PragerU, a conservative media organization that publishes educational materials aimed at combating a “dominant left-wing ideology.”
Earlier this month, Freedom250 was forced to jettison some concerts following the withdrawal of artists who had been scheduled to perform. So far, onstage attractions have featured military bands, ceremonial guard units, acrobats and fireside chats with top administration figures like Dr. Mehmet Oz and second lady Usha Vance.
“We’re literally gonna have hundreds of performers,” Freedom250 CEO Keith Krach told CNN before the fair began. “We’ve got something for everybody, you know what I mean. We’ll have great speakers, military bands, amazing entertainers, amazing singers, magicians, all that stuff.”
What is on the menu?
Visitors are able to purchase a variety of fair classics, like burgers, fries and hot dogs. Outside food, water bottles and coolers are prohibited on the fairgrounds for security purposes, however, free water stations will be available on July 4.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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