Great American State Fair: Guests, speakers, performers revealed for DC celebration

Name: Great American State Fair: Guests, speakers, performers revealed for DC celebration
Uploaded: 2026-05-27T10:50:18-04:00
Description: Freedom 250 has just unveiled the initial roster of artists, speakers and exhibits for the Great American State Fair.

Great American State Fair: Guests, speakers, performers revealed for DC celebration

Freedom 250 has just unveiled the initial roster of artists, speakers and exhibits for the Great American State Fair.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Freedom 250 unveiled the initial roster of artists, speakers and exhibits for the Great American State Fair earlier this week.

What we know:

The Great American State Fair is a free, 16-day celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary running from June 25 through July 10.

The following artists were originally scheduled for this summer:

Martina McBride: June 25
C+C Music Factory: June 26
Vanilla Ice: June 26
Milli Vanilli: June 26
Young MC: June 26
The Commodores: June 27
Morris Day and The Time: June 27
Flo Rida: July 2
Bret Michaels: July 3

All but Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, C+C Music Factory and Flo Rida have dropped out.

LATEST: Bret Michaels latest to pull out of Freedom250 Great American State Fair. Here's who's left

Military performances and demonstrations

U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps / Military District of Washington U.S. Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps
Army Downrange Rock / Military District of Washington Army Downrange Rock
Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble / Military District of Washington Air Force Airmen of Note Jazz
Commanders-in-Chief's Guard / Military District of Washington Commanders-in-Chief's Guard
U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps
Military District of Washington Air Force Max Impact
Military District of Washington MCCS Latin Jazz
Military District of Washington Air Force Singing Sergeants
Military District of Washington U.S. Coast Guard Brass Group
Military District of Washington U.S. Marine Corps Free Country
Military District of Washington Fife and Drums
Military District of Washington Commanders Color Guard
Military District of Washington Drill Team Spectacular
Military District of Washington U.S. Navy Jazz
Military District of Washington Current Country

The fair will also include special appearances and programming by representatives of the National Medal of Honor Museum, nationally recognized health and wellness leaders and some of America’s top innovators.

Lineup shake-up

What they're saying:

Morris Day and Young MC abruptly pulled the plug on their appearances less than 24 hours after being revealed as performers for the Freedom250 celebration.

"Contrary to rumors, Morris Day & the Time will not be performing at the ‘Great American State Fair,'" Day posted on Instagram with the caption, "It’s a No for Me."

Young MC followed suit several hours later with his own Instagram post.

"I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event," he wrote. "The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, Spin magazine describes it as ‘Trump-backed.’ I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged."

What's next:

Event organizers say additional participants, performances, activities and pavilion details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Great American State Fair

The backstory:

The Great American State Fair will run from June 25 through July 10, spanning from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument.

The 16-day fair will feature a 110-foot Ferris wheel, newly refurbished Smithsonian National Carousel, hands-on activities, live music and screenings of National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets. All 56 U.S. states and territories were also extended an invitation to host their own experiences, according to FOX News.

Each day of the fair will feature its own theme:

Thursday, June 25: The American Canon: Opening Day
Friday, June 26: Land & Prosperity
Saturday, June 27: The American Canvas
Sunday, June 28: Military & Veterans Appreciation Day
Monday, June 29: Everyday Health and Well-Being | Make America Healthy Again Monday
Tuesday, June 30: Future of America | Innovation, Technology & Progress
Wednesday, July 1: Faith, Values, and Inspiration
Thursday, July 2: Horsepower of America
Friday, July 3: Wings of Freedom
Saturday, July 4: Independence Day Celebration
Sunday, July 5: Heritage & Legacy
Monday, July 6: Longevity, Innovation & the Future of Health | MAHA Monday
Tuesday, July 7: Future of America | Education and Opportunity
Wednesday, July 8: Family Life and Community Support
Thursday, July 9: Engines of Enterprise
Friday, July 10: The Next 250 | Innovation