*summer 2026 update: the Great American State Fair happened in July 2026 on the National Mall in Washington DC, and the Patriot Games will take place in early August 2026 also in Washington DC (Iowa's two kids competing have not yet been announced as of Mid-July 2026) but America's Harvest Festival will be in Des Moines, Iowa on October 24th, 2026!*
And now back to the original post as written in 2024:
President-elect Donald Trump made an announcement with potentially huge implications for Iowa! In 2026, the United States of America will be celebrating its 250th birthday, and President-elect Trump plans to make it an epic party.
A video of President-elect Trump from Memorial Day 2023 shares one specific part of his plan: the "Great American State Fair" which President-elect Trump suggested could consist of pavilions representing each state in the nation, in coordination with the 50 governors. He also mentioned sporting events for high schoolers from around the nation as part of this event, which he called "Patriot Games."
And the part that may excite Iowans most is the intended location:
The Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa!
I've posted before about how much I love visiting the Iowa State Fair with my family and so I can definitely see why President-elect Trump proposed the fairgrounds as a venue. Plus, the event itself sounds really fun, so I'm excited to see what happens and to attend if I can.
Our state leadership seems to agree:
Governor Kim Reynolds posted on X that "We know the Iowa State Fair is the best fair in the country! In Iowa, we dream big, and we stand ready to host the Great American State Fair!"
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird added, also on X, "The GREATEST fair of all time for the greatest nation on earth! And nobody knows how to do a fair like Iowa. Mr. President-elect, the people of Iowa are ready to make history with you once again!"
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is excited too, saying on X "Mark your calendars. The Great American State Fair in Iowa is going to be an epic celebration of America's 250th birthday!"
Congresswoman Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks added on X "This is a fabulous idea and Iowa is the place to hold it. We are honored and will make it great!"
In that 2023 video where Trump proposed the Great American State Fair, he mentioned the exhibition being open from Memorial Day 2025 through Fourth of July 2026, but the Iowa State Fairgrounds says no formal inquiry or reservation has been made yet. It's also unclear how that would impact the 2025 Iowa State Fair itself.
For information from the official commission to celebrate America's 250th, check out
America250. There's no information yet on that site about the Great American State Fair as far as I can see, but there's lots of other exciting news, including a kids' artwork and essay contest for grades 3-12.
It will be interesting to see how these fun ideas change and hopefully grow into an actual event as that planning becomes a reality, and I will try to keep you all updated as more details are announced about the Great American State Fair. I grew up hearing stories about the bicentennial in 1976, and I'm so excited that now my family and I will get to celebrate the 250th, potentially at this wonderful fair right here in Iowa.
JUNE 2025 UPDATE: Obviously it's too late for this fair to actually happen starting in summer 2025, but
President Trump has announced that he will be making an in-person announcement about the America 250 celebrations at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 3rd, 2025!
Further information in an email I received from the American 250 committee describes this event as "A New Era of American Greatness: America250's Kick-Off Celebration featuring remarks by President Donald J. Trump" and says the pre-program begins at 5pm, with remarks from President Trump beginning at 7pm. The America 250 team says attendees can expect "patriotism, excitement, inspiration, and a glimpse into the grand festivities planned for America's 250th anniversary."
If you'd like to head to Des Moines next week to be part of this in-person, you can register for (free, but limited due to space)
tickets at this link.
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