‘Great American’ fairgoers mark America鈥檚 250th on the National Mall

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‘Great American’ fairgoers mark America鈥檚 250th on the National Mall

America鈥檚 front yard transformed into the 鈥楪reat American State Fair鈥�

America鈥檚 Front Yard has been transformed into the Great American State Fair.

For 16 days, the National Mall plays host to the Trump administration鈥檚 Freedom 250 celebration, and Thursday was the free event’s opening day.

Along with a 110鈥慺oot Ferris wheel, a daily rodeo and live music, the fair 鈥� which spans the Mall between 4th Street NW and 14th Street NW 鈥� features interactive pavilions showcasing all 56 U.S. states and territories.

Rodeo 250 riders at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (草莓传媒/Jimmy Alexander)

鈥淎vailable for people to see what they have, what they brag about, what they think is great — it’s just fun,鈥� Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told 草莓传媒.

Patricia McCann of Middleburg, Virginia, was impressed to see DeWine at his state’s pavilion, and by the fair in general.

“Well, I’ve seen the Dalai Lama here, so you can see anything here,” she said when asked if she thought she’d ever see a rodeo on the National Mall.

While the state pavilions were seeing a lot of foot traffic, no attraction had a longer line than the Ferris wheel.

鈥淥h, it鈥檚 excellent, you can see the city, you can see the Washington Monument,鈥� said Sharon Anderson, a fairgoer from east Tennessee who also attended President Donald Trump’s opening rally Wednesday night. 鈥淵ou can see the Capitol and Reflecting Pool.鈥�

Another attendee checking out the attractions wore an Uncle Sam-style top hat and red, white and blue overalls. He said the fair’s opening day was also his birthday.

鈥�’Merica, baby,鈥� Manny said. 鈥淲hat better way to celebrate my birthday than to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country?鈥�

Others spoke of having mixed feelings while celebrating America’s 250th.

Keith Burkert, visiting from New Jersey, said he鈥檚 not a fan of the current administration, but still chose to be in D.C. to mark the milestone.

鈥淒espite the political climate in this country, I鈥檓 determined to celebrate the 250th,鈥� Burkert said. 鈥淭his is still a great event so I just put the politics aside.鈥�

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Jimmy Alexander

Jimmy Alexander has been a part of the D.C. media scene as a reporter for DC 草莓传媒 Now and a long-standing voice on the Jack Diamond Morning Show. Now, Alexander brings those years spent interviewing newsmakers like President Bill Clinton, Paul McCartney and Sean Connery, to the 草莓传媒草莓传媒room.