The Freedom 250 Great American State Fair is shaping up to be one of the year’s most politically charged celebrations, with the nation’s leading conservative advocacy groups taking center stage at a two-week exposition on the National Mall marking America’s 250th anniversary—an event firmly backed by President Donald Trump and his allies.

The fair has become a flashpoint, drawing both enthusiastic participation and pointed criticism over what some see as the politicization of a once-bipartisan national milestone.

Who’s Behind the Fair

The event is the brainchild of Freedom 250, a nonprofit launched by Trump and his allies to promote the country’s semiquincentennial. Notably, the organization has clashed with—and largely eclipsed—America250, the bipartisan group that Congress chartered a decade ago to plan for the anniversary.

That rivalry has set the tone for much of the surrounding controversy.

A Lineup Heavy on Conservative Voices

According to a Friday release from Freedom 250, the fair will feature a roster of well-known conservative organizations. Among them:

• America Prays, a coalition of evangelical and religious groups promoting weekly prayer for the nation
• The American Principles Project, a prominent political advocacy organization
• The Association of Mature American Citizens, which markets itself as a conservative alternative to the AARP
• Hillsdale College, a small Christian liberal arts school known for its conservative leanings
• Focus on the Family, a prominent ministry widely criticized as anti-LGBTQ+

Steve Gatena, founder of Pray.com—a lead organizer of America Prays—said his group was honored to take part, describing its mission as growing faith and building community through technology. Most of the other featured organizations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The release also noted that painter Scott LoBaido, whose website promotes a provocative print depicting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, will perform live art at the event.

Democrats Cry Foul

Not everyone is celebrating. Several Democrats have accused Trump of stripping the bipartisanship out of what should be a unifying national moment.

Rep. Jared Huffman of California charged earlier this year that the administration was trying to “hijack the country’s 250th anniversary and sell access, hide his donors and rewrite history.” Around the same time, Sen. Adam Schiff launched a probe into Freedom 250’s fundraising practices.

The friction underscores how deeply the anniversary has become entangled in partisan politics.

Organizers Strike a Unifying Note

Despite the criticism, Freedom 250 has framed the fair as a celebration meant to bring all Americans together. Running from June 25 to July 10, the event promises to transform the National Mall into what organizers call “a living showcase of America’s past, present, and future.”

Spokesperson Rachel Reisner leaned into that message of unity. “Americans have been arguing at the dinner table for 250 years and somehow still showed up to the same Fourth of July party,” she said, insisting the celebration is “for America—which, last we checked, includes all of it. Every single star on that flag.”

The fair isn’t strictly a conservative affair, either. Organizers say more than 100 states and institutions will host booths, and the event has attracted politically unaffiliated names like C-SPAN, Meta, and tractor maker John Deere.

States Opting Out

Still, the partisan undertones have prompted some pushback. At least six states—Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Oregon—have officially declined to send representatives, according to reporting from NOTUS. In their place, Freedom 250 plans to bring in other institutions from those states.

A Rally Replaces the Musicians

The fair has also weathered a notable shake-up on the entertainment front. In May, several musical artists pulled out of scheduled performances after learning of the event’s ties to Trump.

Rather than scramble for replacements, the president pivoted entirely—announcing plans for a political rally on June 24 instead. In characteristic fashion, he billed it on Truth Social as “A Rally to end all Rallies!” He dismissed the departed performers as “singers with no talent” demanding big fees, declaring that all he wanted was “you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played.”

As the late-June kickoff approaches, the Great American State Fair stands as a vivid snapshot of the moment—a 250th anniversary celebration that, much like the country it honors, finds itself divided even as it gathers to mark a shared milestone.