Topline
The Great American State Fair kicked off its 16-day run this week on the National Mall in Washington, though the Trump-backed event marking the United States’ 250th birthday has faced a slow start amid sparse crowds, power outages and controversy over the appearance of the Confederate flag.
Key Facts
Crowds arrived in small numbers, according to multiple outlets, with The Washington Post reporting the opening-day crowds were “relatively sparse compared with past National Mall events.”
Power outages impacted some of the fair’s offerings, resulting in melted ice cream, disruptions to the 110-foot-tall Ferris wheel and a shut down of West Virginia’s booth, which experienced air conditioning issues, USA Today reported.
Freedom 250 spokesperson Julia Friedland acknowledged the electrical issues to the Post, saying the fair experienced “power hiccups.”
The fair features booths for all 50 U.S. states, though not all booths will be manned throughout the celebration, as states including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania opted out of sending official representatives over budget constraints or scheduling issues.
North Carolina’s exhibit, which is backed by private sponsors, garnered attention Friday after an “unapproved image” of the Confederate flag was displayed, a spokesperson for the North Carolina booth told Spectrum News, which noted the governor’s office said in a statement it demanded “the organizers stop dishonoring the flag of North Carolina.”
Friday’s installment of the fair was shuttered hours early by rain, according to USA Today, with Saturday’s programming possibly in jeopardy as showers are “likely” alongside a “possible” thunderstorm after 4 p.m. EDT, the National Weather Service said.
The fair‘s programming includes rodeo and music performances, movie screenings, photo opportunities and a variety of food.
SURPRISING FACT
Observers noted Maine’s unmanned booth was among the most muted, with Boston Globe reporter Sam Brodey tweeting: “Maine did not send any delegation, so there’s just an empty room with some chairs and walls with lobster and Maine facts.”
CHIEF CRITICS
Photos and video of the small crowds, a lack of seating and near empty food booths were widely mocked on social media, while the Daily Beast called the event “virtually deserted” and The Atlantic noted in a headline: “The Great American State Fair isn’t very great.”
Crucial Quote
“There’s nice people, nice events, nice family events,” Sharyn Bovat, an attendee, told the Associated Press. “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.” Bovat said a replica of the Trump’s proposed Triumphal Arch gave the fair a political undertone and told the AP it “makes me think of Germany.”
Key Background
The fair is organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by the White House. The event, which will run until July 10 and is free to the public, kicked off Thursday with a speech from President Donald Trump. The president has claimed his speech garnered a live audience of 45,000 people, though estimates and posts from multiple outlets have disputed the number. Trump’s speech worked as a replacement for a series of musical artists who were scheduled to perform at the fair but bowed out over concerns the event had become partisan. Country singer Martina McBride said in a statement she was initially asked to “perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.” Poison frontman Bret Michaels said the fair “evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.”
Further Reading
Only A Few Acts Remain In Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’—And 1 Isn’t Talking (Forbes)
Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’ Is In 2 Days—These States Aren’t Showing Up (Forbes)