WASHINGTON (AP) — A dinosaur rib cage, a sandcastle made from New Jersey coast sand, and two rocking chairs at an unattended booth are among the attractions at the Great American State Fair, which opened this week on the National Mall.
The fair is organized by Freedom 250, an entity created by President Donald Trump to manage the administration’s official events for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The formation of Freedom 250 created tensions with America250, a congressionally created commission that was originally tasked with planning the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
The event on the National Mall will run through July 10.
A small number of attendees arrived early Friday, moving quickly through security checkpoints. The entrance led directly to a 110-foot Ferris wheel — the fair’s only ride — and a smaller arch similar to those the Republican president has used to decorate other events.
The consensus among those interviewed by the Associated Press was that the fair was a good idea, and perhaps an underrealized opportunity.