At least these states have reported opting out of America 250’s Great American State Fair: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Some reports note that Pennsylvania was initially still undecided, so the count and roster have shifted as organizers and state officials kept finalizing participation.

What’s driving it

The main reasons cited are cost, staffing, and political concerns about the event’s tone. Several outlets also note that the states declining participation are all led by Democratic governors.

Current snapshot

State| Status
---|---
Connecticut| Opted out 12
Illinois| Opted out 1314
Maine| Opted out 1314
Massachusetts| Opted out 1213
North Carolina| Opted out 111213
Oregon| Opted out 111213
Pennsylvania| Reported as undecided earlier, later included in opt-out lists 312
Washington| Opted out 1113

Why the list varies

Coverage changed over time as more states made decisions, so some articles say “at least five,” others “at least six,” and later reports mention seven or more. In practice, the safest answer is that eight states have been reported as not participating or declining to participate, with Pennsylvania being the least stable case in the reporting.

TL;DR: the states most commonly reported as not participating are Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.