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Freedom 250 Reveals Great American State Fair Lineup

Freedom 250’s 16-day National Mall exposition will serve as the campaign’s centerpiece, prompting calls for a public accounting of its funding.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 09: People gather for press conference for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC on the National Mall on March 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature a 1.7 mile course with seven turns on the National Mall, later this summer. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 09: People gather for press conference for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC on the National Mall on March 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature a 1.7 mile course with seven turns on the National Mall, later this summer. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 09: People gather for press conference for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC on the National Mall on March 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature a 1.7 mile course with seven turns on the National Mall, later this summer. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Freedom 250 announced the initial Great American State Fair roster on May 27, naming Martina McBride, Flo Rida, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, C+C Music Factory, Young MC, The Commodores, Morris Day & The Time, and Bret Michaels among the performers.
  • The free, 16-day fair is scheduled to run June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument and will stage nightly weekend concerts with advance registration encouraged.
  • Organizers also disclosed large public attractions including a 110-foot Ferris wheel, the newly refurbished Smithsonian National Carousel, state pavilions, film screenings and hands-on innovation exhibits.
  • A broad slate of military ensembles will perform, with groups such as the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Army Downrange Rock, and the Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble listed in the program.
  • Watchdog groups and some members of Congress are pressing for detailed accounting and possible oversight after reporting on private sponsors and donor access disclosed funders including Palantir, Oracle, Deloitte, and Lockheed Martin, and Freedom 250 says it will announce additional participants in the coming weeks.