# Freedom 250 - The Great American State Fair **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 29, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470 "2026-05-29T03:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/321 "2026-06-25T19:22:54Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I did not know the army had a “rock” band. When I attended 1989 national boy scout jamboree, they were playing most of the time in the main camp. As I recall they basically knew two songs which they repeated endlessly: “Everyone walk the dinosaur” and “God bless the USA”. It’s possible that there were some others sprinkled in but those are the two that caused me to really wish they would shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/322 "2026-06-25T19:25:03Z")
You couldn’t drag me to that fucking disaster with a 20-mule team. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/323 "2026-06-25T19:31:48Z")
Too bad he ain’t the King Trump, he wishes to be and he could compel anyone to come for an audience with the King, under the pain of death. Gahh!! Just had a mini nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/324 "2026-06-25T20:02:58Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > As I recall they basically knew two songs which they repeated endlessly: “Everyone walk the dinosaur” and “God bless the USA”. After nearly 40 years, do you still wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, with the sounds of “Boom! Boom! Shakka-lakka-lakka boom!” echoing in your ears? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/325 "2026-06-25T20:22:47Z")
Eventually they blend together and “God Bless the Dinosaur”. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/326 "2026-06-25T20:34:53Z")
> [@CNN](#): > > More than three-quarters of Americans think the country’s founders would be disappointed with the US today But, in which way would they be disappointed? Because they’d think we’ve turned into a fascist dictatorship, full of selfish people crying “me me ME”, or because we let wimmin vote and respect gay rights, and don’t have slavery? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/327 "2026-06-25T20:39:46Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But, in which way would they be disappointed? I think that the one serious issue would be the fact that they tried their best to limit central powers such that they didn’t make the President into the King of the United States. They had just rebelled against a system like that and were trying to not end up that way. And yet, we have something very much like that now. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/328 "2026-06-25T20:49:53Z")
One of the world-class exhibits - Indiana. [![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/25/USAT/90698184007-16302.jpg?width=1320&height=924&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/25/USAT/90698184007-16302.jpg?width=1320&height=924&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) > **[See the Great American State Fair bring summer to DC](https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2026/06/25/great-american-state-fair-usa-250-photos/90697303007/)** > > The Freedom 250-backed Great American State Fair celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States runs through July 10 in DC. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/329 "2026-06-25T20:52:45Z")
That’s embarrassing. Whatever it is. I actually feel sorry for people that go there. Makes the Wonka lemonade river seem like Disneyland. And look at the hundreds of people visiting. Or is it tens? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/330 "2026-06-25T20:58:22Z")
Here we are at June 25, and that runs through July 10? There won’t be time to see everything! (1893, when a Ferris Wheel was a big deal! And that one had enormous cars.) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/331 "2026-06-25T21:06:47Z")
Hokey as all get out! I’d be mad if I spent time making my way there to see whatever the hell this is supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/332 "2026-06-25T21:28:53Z")
It looks like a typical English village fête. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/333 "2026-06-25T21:54:06Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > (1893, when a Ferris Wheel was a big deal! And that one had enormous cars.) I’m not getting onto a Ferris Wheel put up by the Trump Regime. (Or any other construction that requires expertise.) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/334 "2026-06-25T22:46:18Z")
Now that you mention it I suddenly did have a flashback. So three songs. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/335 "2026-06-25T22:55:01Z")
Wow, it’s like they ordered some kind of state fair packages from Temu. I’m sooooo glad North Carolina (and my adopted state of Maine) pulled out of that hot mess. On the subject of military bands, when I was in high school I remember a rock band from Fort Bragg came to play at a school assembly. It was a big enough deal that the they brought kids over from the elementary school. I’m sorry I don’t remember the name of the band, because they were so damn good that kids were dancing. (For some reason, the principal had a problem with this, and musical acts were not invited again. I never understood why. Fuck you, Ben.) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/336 "2026-06-25T23:03:16Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > On the subject of military bands, when I was in high school I remember a rock band from Fort Bragg came to play at a school assembly. It was a big enough deal that the they brought kids over from the elementary school. I’m sorry I don’t remember the name of the band, because they were so damn good that kids were dancing. (For some reason, the principal had a problem with this, and musical acts were not invited again. I never understood why. Fuck you, Ben.) Dancing is too much like sex standing up. Or so said the bluenoses. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/337 "2026-06-26T00:19:55Z")
LOL - so delusional. > [@Trump at Truth Social](#): > > "The Crowd was incredible last night, packed to the brim — At least 45,000 people were there, "NBC News [estimated](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-great-american-state-fair-musicians-rcna351579) attendance at “more than 1,000,” while the Washington Post [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/24/trump-declares-iran-war-over-peace-remains-uncertain/) that “the crowd thinly covered an area about the length of the National Museum of American History, smaller than some summer outdoor movie screenings.” > **['Packed to the brim!' Trump claims 'fantastic' turnout to his Great American...](https://www.rawstory.com/great-american-state-fair/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a3db2fd4d2dce00016def00&fbclid=IwY2xjawSqorNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3WVM3OUlZU25TOFRPRE5lc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHg7KxFqcqsBIeNsSHGwYg2Z1WNNs4a-ZkZxqrXlrbVi1Rf4dvZhJFefCsl3r_aem_UWKs6h2LvzkU-tgyC4rUOA)** > > President Trump claimed a "fantastic" turnout at the kickoff rally for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall Wednesday night, a figure that sharply diverges from independent estimates of the crowd size.A widely shared video clip shows a... > [@Trump](#): > > Everybody stayed right until the end of my Speech because they loved hearing about a truly successful America. You wouldn’t feel the need to say that if they really did. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/338 "2026-06-26T00:35:44Z")
Trump’s favorite crowds are the ones that no one else can see. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/339 "2026-06-26T00:36:26Z")
Jesus. I thought you were making a joke with that picture. Then I looked at the USA today article. IT’S REALLY THE STATE OF INDIANA EXHIBIT! Oh my good God. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/340 "2026-06-26T00:50:45Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Wow, it’s like they ordered some kind of state fair packages from Temu. Thank you for making me laugh. That’s perfect. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=18)