The Great American State Fair is scheduled to open on the National Mall this June 25, but the landmark America 250 celebration is already facing a state-level participation fight.
Despite official invitations, Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina have declined to take part.
This creates a hurdle for the organizer, Freedom 250. The group promises the fair will feature more than 150 exhibits representing all 50 states, six U.S. territories, corporations, innovators, and civic organizations, according to the official Great American State Fair page.
However, the pushback means that “full representation” at the event no longer guarantees the official backing of every state government.
The main festival is scheduled to run from June 25 through July 10, 2026. President Donald Trump is slated to headline a separate opening ceremony on June 24 to kick off the festivities, ABC News reported.
Event Detail
Current Information
Event
Great American State Fair
Public dates
June 25 to July 10, 2026
Opening ceremony
June 24, 2026
Location
National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Organizer
Freedom 250
Admission
Free, with advance registration encouraged
Main issue
Several states have declined official participation
Trump Will Open The Fair After Artists Pulled Out
Trump is scheduled to speak at the June 24 opening ceremony, one day before the fair opens to the public. Freedom 250 told ABC News that Trump would personally kick off the event and described him as the person behind the idea for the fair.
The opening event was announced after several musicians dropped out of the original entertainment lineup. ABC News reported that Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day and The Time, and The Commodores all said they would no longer perform.
Several of those artists said they had been told the event was nonpartisan. McBride said she agreed to perform at what was presented as a celebration of all 50 states, then withdrew after concluding the event had changed. The Commodores said they did not want to publicly affiliate with a single political party.
Performer Or Group
Status
Reported Reason Or Context
Martina McBride
Withdrew
Said the event was presented as nonpartisan
Bret Michaels
Withdrew
Said the event became more divisive than expected
Young MC
Withdrew
Said artists were not told about political involvement
Morris Day And The Time
Withdrew
Confirmed they would not perform
The Commodores
Withdrew
Said they do not affiliate with one political party
Lee Greenwood
Listed For Opening Ceremony
Scheduled for the June 24 kickoff
Christopher Macchio
Listed For Opening Ceremony
Scheduled for the June 24 kickoff
Which States Have Declined The Great American State Fair?
Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina have declined invitations to take part in the official fair program, according to CNN.
Oregon gave the clearest public reason in the available reporting. State officials cited cost and concern that the event had become more political than expected. Washington and North Carolina were also reported as declining, with fewer public details available at the time of reporting.
State
Status
What Is Known
Oregon
Declined
Cost and concern over political framing were cited in reporting
Washington
Declined
Reported as declining official participation
North Carolina
Declined
Reported as declining official participation
Pennsylvania
Undecided
VisitPA received an invitation, but no final decision has been announced
The state list is not complete because Freedom 250 has not released a single public roster showing every official state participant.
The confirmed story is narrower: at least three states have said no, Pennsylvania has not made a final public decision, and Freedom 250 still says all states and territories will be represented at the fair.
Pennsylvania Is The State To Watch
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Pennsylvania has a larger role in the America 250 event because the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia in 1776. That makes the state’s absence or presence more important.
Axios Philadelphia reported June 3 that VisitPA received an invitation to the fair. Penny Ickes, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, told Axios that no final decision had been made.
What We Will See At The Fair?
The planned attractions include state pavilions, territory displays, food, business exhibits, movie screenings, military ensembles, flyovers, family activities, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, and the Smithsonian National Carousel.
Can the public attend?
Yes, the fair is free
Is registration required?
Advance registration is encouraged, but walk-up visitors are expected to be allowed
Will all states appear?
Freedom 250 says all states and territories will be represented
Freedom 250 is not the same entity as the congressionally created America250 commission. The America250 commission says it was established by Congress in 2016 to plan the national semiquincentennial.
Trump created a White House task force for the 250th anniversary through Executive Order 14189, signed January 29, 2025. Freedom 250 then became the public organizer for several Trump-linked anniversary events, including the Great American State Fair.
Axios reported that the White House says Freedom 250 does not replace America250. Critics have questioned the overlap between public anniversary planning, private fundraising, and Trump’s political branding.
What Is Still Unknown Before June 25?
The full official state participation list remains the largest missing piece. Freedom 250 says every state and territory will be represented, but public reporting has already identified three states that declined official participation.
The final entertainment schedule also remains important because the earlier concert lineup changed after multiple artists withdrew. Trump is now the main announced figure for the kickoff, with Lee Greenwood, Christopher Macchio, and military musical groups listed for the June 24 program.
Unresolved Point
Why It Matters
Full official state roster
Shows which states are participating through official offices
How will the declined states be displayed
Shows whether organizers use private or substitute exhibits
Pennsylvania decision
Philadelphia gives the state a central America 250 role
Final entertainment schedule
Earlier performers withdrew after the event became politically charged
July 4 crowd and security plan
The fair overlaps with the busiest holiday period in Washington
Bottom Line
@freedom250🎡🇺🇸 Take a look at what’s coming to the National Mall. A Ferris wheel overlooking the monuments. More than 150 exhibits from all 56 states and territories. Live entertainment, cultural programming, family attractions, innovation showcases, and spectacular flyovers. This is the Great American State Fair. 📍 National Mall, Washington, D.C. 🗓 June 25–July 10, 2026 RSVP today.♬ original sound – Freedom 250
The Great American State Fair is scheduled to open June 25 on the National Mall and run through July 10. Trump is set to headline the June 24 kickoff, and Freedom 250 says all 50 states and six U.S. territories will be represented.
The official state picture is less clear. Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina have declined invitations, Pennsylvania has not made a final public decision in the latest reporting, and the full official participant list has not been released.
That is the main story before opening day: the fair is still moving forward, but not every state wants its government attached to it.
