If your goal is to visit all 50 states, you can do that, and also visit all six of the nation’s territories, in a single afternoon right here in the District this summer at the upcoming ‘Great American State Fair‘!
The world expo-style event, which will take place on the National Mall, will showcase just about every facet of each U.S. state and territory, featuring things like traditional foods, cultural practices, and more!
When is the ‘Great American State Fair’ going to be?
The ‘Great American State Fair’ will be held in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall between June 25th and July 10th.
The festivities (and crowds) are expected to peak around the weekend of the 4th of July, where the event will likely be capped off with a fireworks display, although this has not yet been confirmed.
The event will run from 10 am to 9 pm Sunday through Wednesday, 10 am to 11 pm from Thursday through Saturday, and will run from 10 am to midnight on July 4th.
Will it be free to attend?
Yes, the ‘Great American State Fair’ will be 100% free, but for the general safety of attendees, there will apparently be a registration process that will be requested to be filled out in advance — this will control crowd sizes and allow security to screen attendees to ensure the event is safe.
That said, it is not yet clear if registering in advance will be required to attend the event.
It’s worth noting that the event, and all of its festivities, are not congressionally commissioned (this would be America250), Freedom250 events are organized by a public-private partner to aid in celebrating the occasion.
What to expect at the ‘Great American State Fair’
This will be the first event of its kind, showcasing just about every aspect of each state and inhabited territory of the United States of America.
The examples of things to do at the event shared by the Freedom250 organizers included:
- Roping with the cowboys of Wyoming
- Moving to the rhythm of Guam’s Chamoru dancers
- Wandering through Arizona’s glowing desert journey
- A 110-foot Ferris Wheel
There will also be unique themes for each day of the ‘Great American State Fair’, which might shine a better light on what to expect each day:
- Thursday, June 25 — The American Canon: Opening Day
- Friday, June 26 — Land & Prosperity
- Saturday, June 27 — The American Canvas
- Sunday, June 28 — Military & Veterans Appreciation Day
- Monday, June 29 — Everyday Health and Well Being
- Tuesday, June 30— Future of America | Innovation, Technology & Progress
- Wednesday, July 1 — Faith, Values, and Inspiration
- Thursday, July 2 — Horsepower of America
- Friday, July 3 — Wings of Freedom
- Saturday, July 4 — Independence Day Celebration
- Sunday, July 5 — Heritage & Legacy
- Monday, July 6 — Longevity, Innovation & the Future of Health
- Tuesday, July 7 — Future of America | Education and Opportunity
- Wednesday, July 8 —Family Life and Community Support
- Thursday, July 9 —Engines of Enterprise
- Friday, July 10 — The Next 250 | Innovation
