Several states did not participate in the 250th anniversary celebration’s “Great American State Fair,” according to reports from June 2026. The states named in coverage include Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maine, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

States reported as skipping

  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • North Carolina
  • Maine
  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • Pennsylvania

Why they opted out

Reports said the main reasons were cost and concerns that the event had become too partisan. Some coverage also noted that all of the states declining participation were led by Democratic governors.

One important caveat

Different outlets reported slightly different counts at different points in time, ranging from at least five to at least eight states, because participation was still evolving.