State fair hit by heat as 11 hospitalized, Trump still set to speak
The parade, hosted by the National Park Service and scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, was canceled late Friday after organizers said they made their decision “after extensive consultation” with the NPS, Washington, D.C.’s municipal government and the Trump administration, according to a statement cited by the Guardian.
Temperatures in the capital were forecast to reach 102°F (39°C) on July 4, with humidity pushing heat index values between 110 and 115°F (43–46°C). The National Weather Service had issued an extreme heat warning for the region.
The cancellation is the latest disruption to the semiquincentennial celebrations caused by a sustained heat wave that has stressed the region’s electricity grid and transportation services. The Great American State Fair, a centerpiece event promoted by the president, temporarily closed Friday afternoon after 44 visitors were treated for heat-related illnesses, the Guardian reported. NBC Washington reported that 11 people were transported to the hospital, with seven of those cases considered serious.
Freedom 250, the public-private partnership organizing the fair, said Saturday’s opening would be delayed. The fair has also experienced low attendance and a broken Ferris wheel, according to the Guardian.
The organizing committee issued a statement Friday on social media urging attendees to take precautions. “With warm temperatures expected, guests are encouraged to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, apply sunscreen, take breaks in the shade, utilize cooling areas, and look out for family and friends,” the post read.
Trump still planned to take the stage at the fair Saturday evening to deliver a speech, the Guardian reported, following a schedule of military flyovers over the National Mall. He was expected to launch the largest fireworks display in the city’s history late Saturday night.