Democratic-led states balk at 'Great American State Fair'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

06/22/26 6:00 AM ET


A grand state fair highlighting American culture is set to kick off on the National Mall this week ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary, but several states have publicly said they will not attend the event. At least seven states led by Democratic governors have opted not to send official representatives to the “Great American State Fair,” with some raising concerns that the event is shaping up to be more partisan than it has been billed.

The 16 days of festivities on the National Mall kick off Thursday, and each day will center on a different facet of American history.

Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington, Illinois, Oregon and Connecticut all cited budget constraints in their reasons for not attending. Maine’s tourism office told a local ABC News station it declined the invitation because of scheduling demands during a “busy summer season.”

Additionally, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania’s tourism board told The Hill on Wednesday that the state is still making a determination about whether it will participate.

Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5931586-states-decline-great-american-state-fair/

[Smilo]

1. .....will center on a different facet of American history.

Just so long as those facets are the face of white American history.

[RockCreek]

7. Plenty of room for Trumpublican grift! A company based in the state can be a State exhibitor

[dave99]

2. New York better NOT send anything/anyone

[Karasu]

3. Are CA and NY really participating in this?

[BumRushDaShow]

5. From the article

Several Democratic-led states, including California, Colorado and New York, have confirmed they will be present at the fair. New York’s official tourism campaign, “I LOVE NY,” has organized an exhibit that includes opportunities to win branded prizes.

I expect it had been planned awhile ago before it was realized that the organization sponsoring it was hijacked.

[markie]

4. add Vermont... not participating

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/vermont-not-participating-in-trump-administration-s-great-american-state-fair/ar-AA25v51q?ocid=BingNewsSerp

"Vermont is not participating in national Freedom 250 celebrations, including the Great American State Fair, which several other states have also bowed out of."

[hunter]

6. California will be represented by "Visit California"

It's a non-profit funded by taxes on the travel industry -- hotels, restaurants, rental cars and attractions

I don't expect they'll be flying any Pride flags. They might surprise me.

https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/celebrating-pride-month-california/

[RockCreek]

8. Mass governor Healey has a great response

from article:
"Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) did not mince words when asked by a listener during an appearance several weeks ago on Boston Public Radio about whether she would welcome President Trump to anniversary celebrations in the state.

“He’s too busy with his ‘Great American State Fair’ down there that everybody’s bailing on,” Healey replied.

The Democratic state official accused the president of using the fair to “get money into his own pocket.”

“He invited all of the states to participate and wants to charge us — charge us — to go down and put something on his exhibit, whatever he’s creating for Freedom 250,” she said. “It’s just ridiculous.”

A spokesperson for Freedom 250 denied that there was a cost requirement for state participation and said each state has been allotted a place on the National Mall."