President-elect Donald Trump made an announcement with 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 a 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 plate 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.
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