NC opts out of ‘State Fair’ celebration for America’s 250th, citing finances
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- North Carolina confirmed it will not participate in the Great American State Fair.
- The Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., runs from June 25 through July 10.
- State officials said North Carolina has budget constraints affecting participation.
Good morning! It’s Danielle Battaglia with another edition of Under the Dome focused on the Trump administration.
Happy Trump’s birthday (June 14) to all who celebrate!
Let’s talk about America’s 250th birthday.
One of the main ways Washington, D.C., is celebrating is the Great American State Fair.
And North Carolina is not participating.
According to the website for Freedom 250, the Trump-affiliated group organizing the event, the Great American State Fair is supposed to honor “the people, traditions, innovations and spirit” that make our country great. It runs from June 25 to July 10.
News outlets are reporting several states (led by Democrats) are choosing not to participate, adding to a growing list of events celebrating the country’s birthday that seems to be stifled by the current political climate.
The New York Times spoke to North Carolina officials who confirmed we’re among them.
According to those officials, we have budget constraints. Womp, womp.
North Carolina lawmakers still haven’t set a budget that was due last July. Not that one has to do with the other, I just think it’s a great time to remind people of that.
But don’t be too sad; there are several events planned across the state to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
A full list can be found here.
If you’re willing to travel to party, you can access a list of events nationwide here.
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That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and supporting local journalism. Be kind to each other.
If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter, feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
