# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/401 "2026-06-27T06:09:08Z")
Poor trump; he’s a sad little boy who had a birthday party with pony rides but no one came except a great-aunt and uncle. ---
**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 27, 2026, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/402 "2026-06-27T10:35:04Z")
Surely The Great Queen Robbery has announced a makeup date, right? This piece of shit festival has two more weeks to go. ---
**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 27, 2026, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/403 "2026-06-27T10:38:22Z")
Welp, I’ve answered my own question… Apparently private companies stepped up to sponsor booths, at least in the case of North Carolina. Mount Olive Pickle Company was one of the sponsors; apparently they pulled out after word of that Confederate flag thing got out. Confederate flag displayed at N.C. exhibit [Confederate flag displayed at N.C. exhibit](https://share.google/nSb3AOtPfTMeG8Lkt) ---
**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 27, 2026, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/404 "2026-06-27T10:44:56Z")
Damn. We have an answer to “How do we make this piece of shit festival even shittier?” ETA: I have Mount Olive pepperoncinis and dill pickles in my fridge right now. Good to hear that they withdrew their support. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/405 "2026-06-27T16:05:46Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > “How do we make this piece of shit festival even shittier?” Actually the hand puppets are a killer draw right now. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/406 "2026-06-27T16:19:53Z")
everyone needs to give the organizers a little slack. They only had 250 years to get ready, so don’t expect too much. ---
**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 27, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/407 "2026-06-27T16:56:24Z")
There was just an article in our local news outlet saying that Hawai’i opted out due to the expense - the designated spokesperson swore it wasn’t political, just talked about how costly it would be to have hula dancers come and perform. She also made reference to the need to be sensitive to Native Hawaiian history, given that the US overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom. And also said that funds for celebrating the 250th would be used on local events (there apparently are some concerts and things happening on 'Oahu; I haven’t noticed anything where I live, on the Big Island). Since Hawai’i is very blue, and usually fairly gracious, that is pretty much the outcome I’d have expected. I wouldn’t mind seeing what placeholder exhibit the organizers put together for the state. Maybe we get a coconut on a table, instead of a couple of chairs? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/408 "2026-06-27T16:59:11Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Maybe we get a coconut Or a pineapple…from Costa Rica. ---
**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 27, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/409 "2026-06-27T17:38:47Z")
Omigod … it just now occurred to me. Hawai’i should have gone, and their exhibit should have had a giant sign proclaiming, “BIRTHPLACE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA.” Now that would have been some mighty-fine trolling. ETA: but I guess that wouldn’t have worked, because the Freedom Committee had to give prior approval to all exhibits? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/410 "2026-06-27T18:26:57Z")
Today in “metaphors too on-the-nose”: > **[Uncle Sam Charged With Masturbating At Trump Fair - Joe.My.God.](https://www.joemygod.com/2026/06/uncle-sam-charged-with-masturbating-at-trump-fair/)** > > The Sun reports: A streamer has been arrested at the Great American State Fair for allegedly masturbating during a performance. It is the latest in a string of embarrassments for President Trump’s patriotic extravaganza thrown in honor of America’s... ---
**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 27, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/411 "2026-06-27T18:44:04Z")
> [@from Gyrate's link](#): > > extravaganza thrown in honor I read that as “thrown in horror”. LOL ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/412 "2026-06-27T18:56:15Z")
TBF this sounds like someone who’d likely have been doing this at _some_ festival _somewhere_ if it weren’t at this one. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/413 "2026-06-27T19:26:48Z")
Pretty much nobody is caught doing [whatever] transgression the first time. Whether that’s removing the tag from cushions, speeding, shoplifting, or masturbating while performing in costume. ---
**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 27, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/414 "2026-06-27T19:42:59Z")
Who’s to say what a fellow is up to when he’s reaching down into his overalls while admiring the circus performers? USA! USA! ---
**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 27, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/415 "2026-06-27T20:37:29Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Today in “metaphors too on-the-nose”: Is that a bukkake pun? Bravo! He must have been confused about what “live-streaming” meant. Uncle Sam wasn’t just pointing his finger this time. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/416 "2026-06-27T22:01:37Z")
Oh. Darn. Great American State Fair concert featuring Vanilla ICE canceled due to weather [https://share.google/idOWAoEMfIDYteZnt](https://share.google/idOWAoEMfIDYteZnt) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/417 "2026-06-27T22:05:35Z")
Yes, the crowd threatened to be isolated or scattered rather than heavy ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/418 "2026-06-27T23:05:32Z")
Lotta people don’t know that “lame” is spelled t-r-u-m-p. But more learn every day. Three down, 100 million to go. ---
**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 27, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/419 "2026-06-27T23:56:33Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Great American State Fair concert featuring Vanilla ICE canceled due to weather That’s actually old news from yesterday (as that article in _The Hill_ notes, he was scheduled to perform on Friday evening), and discussed upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/420 "2026-06-28T00:30:01Z")
Apparently there’s also baptizing going on at the fair? No news links, just reports from social media, but it sounds plausible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=22)