WA joins list of other states not participating in Great American Fair

Washington will not be participating in the Great American State Fair, citing significant costs associated with the multiday exposition on the National Mall later this month.

Washington joins a small list of at least six other states, including Oregon, Maine and Massachusetts, that say they will not participate or send a delegation to the event celebrating America's 250th anniversary, which opens on June 25 and runs until July 10.

In an emailed statement, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who chairs Washington state's Semiquincentennial Committee, said that the state is facing a "very difficult fiscal situation" and that, given the costs of participating in the fair, officials have chosen "to focus on supporting local efforts here in Washington state for this very important commemoration."

Dallas Roberts, chief of staff for Heck's office, said that it was unclear how much participation would ultimately cost, contributing to concerns about committing state resources to the event. Roberts said the office had heard from other participating states that estimated costs ranged from $100,000 to $1 million.

Roberts said the Washington State Historical Society plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary locally in other ways.

Washington's decision comes amid growing controversy surrounding the Great American State Fair, which has become increasingly intertwined with President Donald Trump's political agenda. The event, billed as a national celebration of America's 250th anniversary, is organized by Freedom 250, a group established by the Trump administration that has received $80 million in federal funding.

Critics have questioned the event's costs, transparency and partisan direction. Regardless, states that are not participating will be represented in some way, according to Freedom 250. The organization could not be reached Friday to answer questions about how Washington would be represented.

Questions about the fair have intensified in recent weeks after several musicians slated to perform withdrew from the lineup, with some saying they had initially believed the event was a bipartisan celebration.

Those concerns have resonated with several Washington Democrats, who argue the event has drifted far from its original mission of marking the nation's semiquincentennial and instead has become closely associated with Trump and his political brand.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said in a statement that if Trump attends, the event will "turn into another unhinged partisan rant about his imagined grievances."

Rep. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, said she doesn't plan to attend the "$80 million taxpayer-funded fair."

Freedom 250 was created by the Trump administration in December, despite Congress having approved a bipartisan commission, America 250, a decade ago to organize the nation's celebration. Instead, Trump has withheld funding from America 250 while directing taxpayer dollars to the newly created organization.

Randall said she "can't think of a more wasteful use of taxpayer funds" other than Trump's "taxpayer-funded UFC-themed birthday party" at a time when people are struggling to afford groceries and gas.

"America's 250th was supposed to be a bipartisan celebration of what makes this country truly great - a country founded and built by immigrants - and instead, it's become a wasteful, partisan vanity project," she said.

Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Marilyn Strickland, as well as Sen. Maria Cantwell, also said they would not attend.

Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, said he was looking forward to celebrating the birthday of the greatest nation in the world, the United States of America, not only with people from across the state of Washington but with every American."

Seattle Times staff reporter Anumita Kaur contributed to this report.

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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 11:38 PM.