# 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:** 30
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/581 "2026-07-01T16:01:00Z")
Honestly I kinda like that Virginia “LOVE” exhibit: colorful, memorable, ties in to the state motto, gives a bit of info about state agriculture, etc. But: “like” as in, I’d enjoy pausing for a moment while walking through an airport to look at one of the infotainment exhibits. Not something I’d be impressed by as a state’s contribution to a magnificent once-in-a-lifetime national celebration in the nation’s capital. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/582 "2026-07-01T16:09:31Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Honestly I kinda like that Virginia “LOVE” exhibit: colorful, memorable, ties in to the state motto, gives a bit of info about state agriculture, etc. It reminds me of _The Very Hungry Caterpilla_r, which is a book for toddlers. Probably one of Trump’s favorites. “He just ate, and took everything he wanted, nobody could tell him no, until he turned into a beautiful butterfly. So beautiful…” ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/583 "2026-07-01T16:32:29Z")
Finally caught in one of my local media a glimpse of PR’s contribution. Apparently like many others a sitting room (but with a nice couch, at least), with the standard event exhibit panels in back and a table with local products on display (but not for sampling). Only got to see that because our Public Safety Secretary/Deputy Adjutant General was visiting PRNG members who had been called up for the DC security operation, and the media team did a report of what his whole day was like. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/584 "2026-07-01T16:32:38Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Honestly I kinda like that Virginia “LOVE” exhibit:… ties in to the state motto… “Sic Semper Tyrannis”? Translation: “Thus always to tyrants”? Heh, I know what you mean-- you’re referring not to the official state motto, but to the old, classic tourism slogan “Virginia is for lovers”. I had been wondering why the word ‘LOVE’, so I guess that does make a bit more sense, calling back to that highly successful tourism campaign. > [@JRDelirious](#): > > Finally caught in one of my local media a glimpse of PR’s contribution. Apparently like many others a sitting room (but with a nice couch, at least), with the standard event exhibit panels in back and a table with local products on display (but not for sampling). Any rolls of paper towels on display? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/585 "2026-07-01T16:35:56Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Heh, I know what you mean-- you’re referring not to the official state motto, but to the old, classic tourism motto “Virginia is for lovers”. Oh yeah you’re right, slogan not motto. ---
**Author:** ![RAWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RAWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWDuke)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/586 "2026-07-01T16:36:29Z")
I would be curious to know, if you took away the pavilions, the Arc de Plywood, and the Ferris Wheel, how many people would be there on a typical summer day? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/587 "2026-07-01T16:43:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Any rolls of paper towels on display? 😝 (But, seriously, I perceive that one particular stupid-optics incident seems to have stuck a whole lot more with folks in CONUS than down here after almost 9 years.) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/588 "2026-07-01T16:43:13Z")
We took the kids to D.C. on vacation one Summer back during the Obama admin, and I remember that grassy mall area filled with people milling about, sitting on the grass reading, having picnics, and playing pickup ball games. The trump admin has more or less turned the area into an exclusion zone / no man’s land (temporarily, hopefully). ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/589 "2026-07-01T16:46:18Z")
Well, you can’t have Those People just wandering around doing whatever they want. What do you think this is, a free country? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/590 "2026-07-01T17:20:43Z")
> [@solost](#): > > “Virginia is for lovers” Like the famous SCOTUS case, Loving v Virginia. Loving won! yeah for love! > [@RAWDuke](#): > > how many people would be there on a typical summer day? My wife was there in 1976, she has a photo of her on the grass. While she was there on the 4th, and so not a direct comparison, it was a lot busier. We shall see Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/591 "2026-07-01T19:02:20Z")
Seems a little woke (which is probably why it’s my favorite so far). ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/592 "2026-07-01T19:09:55Z")
You know, looking at these sad pictures, it becomes obvious that the AZ State fair is 50X better than this. More exhibits, more rides, more food, and good stuff. Probably the MN state fair is even better. That Virginia “LOVE” art? That would be one of a hundred art items in AZ State Fair. MASF250GA! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/593 "2026-07-01T19:13:51Z")
> [@solost](#): > > How do you get State Fair food wrong? I’ve never made deep-fried butter, maybe it’s trickier than it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/594 "2026-07-01T19:24:08Z")
The weekly Farmer’s Market in Durango is a million times more interesting, and with better food. In a town of 20K. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/595 "2026-07-01T19:29:38Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’ve never made deep-fried butter, maybe it’s trickier than it sounds. A little bit, actually. It’s a bit of a misnomer as there is usually some batter/coating involved. So, if you can screw up a corndog, you can screw up fried butter ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/596 "2026-07-01T19:36:48Z")
_I took a trip down to look at the fair When I arrived I found nobody there It seemed I was all alone Must be that they’ve all gone home_ _A trip to the fair, but nobody was there A trip to the fair, but nobody was there_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Z7BgYDGZCBw/maxresdefault.jpg "Trip To The Fair (2021 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7BgYDGZCBw) \*sorry if already posted. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/597 "2026-07-01T19:51:56Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Probably the MN state fair is even better. Probably? I can nearly guarantee ANY state fair is better than this shit-show. What state fair has one ride? Has such shitty “performers”? Such shitty food? Such shitty displays? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/598 "2026-07-01T19:54:03Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Probably? No, I mean MN was better than AZ. My bad wording. MN state fair is like the gold standard for fairs. World famous butter sculpture! ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/599 "2026-07-01T19:55:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > No, I mean MN was better than AZ. My bad wording. > > MN state fair is like the gold standard for fairs. World famous butter sculpture! Sorry, I can see what you meant now that I re-read. I bet they do have a kickass state fair. I’ve been to the WA state fair a couple times many years ago, and it was great! ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/600 "2026-07-01T19:58:02Z")
There is a pretty nice county fair in Virginia that has been going on for a while that would also be much better than this: [Rockingham County Fair - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockingham_County_Fair) They have tractor pulls and a demolition derby…which now that I think of it would be another great metaphor of the state of the Union right now… `//i\\` [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=31)