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marmar

(80,572 posts) Wed Jul 15, 2026, 09:14 AM 11 hrs ago

16 Days, Scant Crowds and Melted Ice Cream: A Timeline of What Went Wrong at the Great American State Fair

16 Days, Scant Crowds and Melted Ice Cream: A Timeline of What Went Wrong at the Great American State Fair
The Great American State Fair, billed as America’s greatest birthday party, ends Friday. Here’s a look back at the mishaps and politics that plagued the event.

By Stella Garner |
July 10, 2026, at 2:47 p.m.

(US News & World Report) On the opening night of the Great American State Fair, Trump promised his audience on the National Mall an event of epic proportions.

“We are beginning the most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen,” Trump said. “Oh, you're going to have a good time.”

But the fair was already mired in controversy before a single tent was assembled. Over the last few weeks, the event saw everything from melted ice cream to pollution warnings. Here’s a timeline of the contentious events which made up the Great American State Fair:

Before Day 1: Celebrities Ghost, States Opt Out

Plans for the fair included an opening concert with acts like The Commodores, Martina McBride and Young MC. But after several performers dropped out of the lineup citing concerns over the fair’s politics, President Donald Trump canceled the event and decided to host an opening rally instead. Freedom 250, a public-private partnership established entirely by the Trump administration, oversaw the fair instead of America 250, the bipartisan commission authorized by Congress. Several performers said they were misled to believe the event would be less political. .................(more)

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2026-07-10/16-days-scant-crowds-and-melted-ice-cream-a-timeline-of-what-went-wrong-at-the-great-american-state-fair

8 replies

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16 Days, Scant Crowds and Melted Ice Cream: A Timeline of What Went Wrong at the Great American State Fair (Original Post) marmar 11 hrs ago OP

Tinhat jingoism without a shred of American patriotism, legitimacy, or freedom bucolic_frolic 11 hrs ago #1

Tell us you know nothing about state fairs without telling us, Donnie. CrispyQ 11 hrs ago #2

100%! ONE RIDE: A dangerously large ferris wheel! ..... ColoringFool 10 hrs ago #3

There was hardly Anything to see or do--except ferris wheel and the state booths. No chairs or tables and riversedge 10 hrs ago #4

I'll bet there are hundreds of thousands of dollars of invoices for tables, chairs, umbrellas, & even a real carnival. CrispyQ 10 hrs ago #5

The media did what they were instructed to--nothing. durablend 10 hrs ago #6

I could sum it up in three words: tRump touched it. Blue Owl 10 hrs ago #7

Everything the 🍊🐖💩touches is ruined kimbutgar 9 hrs ago #8

bucolic_frolic

(56,546 posts)

1. Tinhat jingoism without a shred of American patriotism, legitimacy, or freedom

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Jul 15, 2026, 09:18 AM

11 hrs ago

Live free or die was absent. Sell me trinkets won the day, for the few who attended.

CrispyQ

(41,240 posts)

2. Tell us you know nothing about state fairs without telling us, Donnie.

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Jul 15, 2026, 09:27 AM

11 hrs ago

They're never over two weeks long! They're generally in August near the end of summer. There absolutely must be carnival rides—plural!—& game booths with giant plushies to win. Also, I've never been to a county or state fair that didn't have 4-H exhibits with the grand prizes proudly displayed.

No white ribbon of participation for you, loser!

ColoringFool

(1,604 posts)

3. 100%! ONE RIDE: A dangerously large ferris wheel! .....

Reply to CrispyQ (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 15, 2026, 09:42 AM

10 hrs ago

A HUGE EMPTY EXPANSE OF GRASS TO CROSS!

In general, waaaay too spread out.

Expensive food and drink!

No places to sit!

No "Midway": no games, no rides, no good entertainment, no frequent Port-o-lets, no jitneys, no shade!

NO PURPOSE TO THE STATE BOOTHS! Were they to show off products? Crafts? History? What, exactly? PA didn't participate, so I don't know! Plus, the booths were cramped!

No designated free transportation to the "fair" from a central parking area.

Record HEAT IN D.C.! Nobody who lives there would have picked these dates.

Lastly, the biggest reason for the flop was TRUMP. He had to make it about himself.

riversedge

(82,558 posts)

4. There was hardly Anything to see or do--except ferris wheel and the state booths. No chairs or tables and

Reply to CrispyQ (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 15, 2026, 09:54 AM

10 hrs ago

even in the food booths, people were out of the sun and sitting on the FLOOR to eat.

CrispyQ

(41,240 posts)

5. I'll bet there are hundreds of thousands of dollars of invoices for tables, chairs, umbrellas, & even a real carnival.

Reply to riversedge (Reply #4)

Wed Jul 15, 2026, 10:06 AM

10 hrs ago

Invoices that got paid by We the People for items that never materialized.

I can't believe our media is so fucking lame they didn't raise a stink about using the same stupid ass pool guy. WTF?