SALEM, Ore. (Jun. 14, 2026) — Oregon is among seven Democratic-led states that have declined to send official delegations to a national fair celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday, citing concerns over costs and, in Oregon’s case, concerns about the event’s increasingly partisan nature.
The Great American State Fair, scheduled to run from June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is one of the marquee events tied to the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration. Organized by Freedom 250, a White House-backed initiative, the event has been described by organizers as a modern-day World’s Fair designed to showcase the culture, innovation and history of all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Plans for the fair include state pavilions and exhibits, regional food vendors, live entertainment, historical displays, educational programming, family activities, movie screenings and military flyovers. The celebration is set to culminate around Independence Day festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
However, Oregon officials confirmed the state will not be taking part.
“The State of Oregon will not be participating in the Great American State Fair due to both the cost of participating in the Fair and growing concerns that the event in Washington, D.C. is shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented,” Luke Harkins, a spokesperson for Gov. Tina Kotek, said in a statement.
Oregon joins Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Washington in declining to send official state delegations to the event. All seven states are currently led by Democratic governors.
While Oregon did not release a specific cost estimate for participation, other states cited substantial expenses associated with staffing and operating exhibits in the nation’s capital. North Carolina officials estimated that establishing and maintaining a state pavilion for the 16-day event would exceed $100,000, a figure that did not include the opportunity costs of diverting personnel and resources from local anniversary celebrations.
Some states that chose to participate budgeted significantly more. Ohio, for example, approved $750,000 to support its involvement in the Great American State Fair, highlighting the wide range of potential costs associated with creating exhibits, transporting materials, staffing booths and promoting individual state attractions.
Washington officials similarly cited budget concerns in explaining their decision to opt out.
“Our state is facing a very difficult fiscal situation,” Lt. Gov. Denny Heck said in a statement. “With that in mind, given the significant costs associated with participating in the Great American State Fair, we chose to focus on supporting local efforts here in Washington state for this very important commemoration.”
The controversy surrounding the fair has unfolded alongside broader confusion over two separate efforts to commemorate America’s 250th birthday.
America250, the congressionally authorized commission established in 2016, has spent years working with states to develop local educational programs and historical initiatives. Freedom 250, the organization behind the Washington fair, has focused on large-scale national events tied to the anniversary.
Despite declining to participate in the National Mall festivities, Oregon officials said the state remains committed to commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary through events coordinated by the Oregon America 250 Commission.
The United States will officially celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. While communities nationwide are planning parades, festivals and educational programs to mark the milestone, the absence of several Democratic-led states from one of the nation’s highest-profile celebrations has underscored the political tensions surrounding an event intended to unite Americans in honoring their shared history.
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