What we saw in DC as crowds gather before July 4th celebrations
Consider Friday to be family day at the Great American State Fair in Washington DC, where crowds picked up despite sweltering heat putting a damper on the day's events.
The fair had mostly been sparsely attended during its opening week, but with tourists pouring into the nation's capital ahead of America's 250th birthday and many adults off work for the holiday weekend, families took the opportunity to bring their children to the fair.
With the increased crowds and excitement for Saturday's festivities, there was a noticeably different buzz in the air compared with earlier in the week.
Those who made it to the fair early were met with three uninterrupted hours of sunshine, a wave of military flyovers, long lines forming at food and drink vendors, and did we mention sunshine?
Temperatures had already eclipsed 90 degrees by 10 a.m., and by noon they had soared above 95 degrees with a heat index of 111 degrees.
People who got to the fair shortly after it opened Friday faced 30-minute wait times to enter, but once they were inside organizers did their best to help guests battle the heat. Workers at the security gates were allowing attendees to bring in bottled water, and the fair also provided water refill stations and multiple locations to grab a free bottle.
The flyovers - though met mostly with complaints from locals over the noise - drew awe from the fair's guests. Friday's planes included U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights and U.S. Navy Leap Frogs, but It was a surprise pass from President Donald Trump's Air Force One that drew the loudest ovation when it swept low over the National Mall around noon.
When they weren't looking into the skies to check out the fleet of military aircraft flying low along the city's iconic monuments and structures, attendees were doing their best to beat the heat inside the fair's exhibitions.
Noticeably, the line was longest to enter the Florida pavilion, where guests could receive free plush manatee toys and practice their short game on a Florida shaped mini-putting green.
Other booths included photo opportunities dressed in traditional Colonial garb, hands-on historical exhibits and interactive displays that offered visitors a break from the oppressive heat.
The day marked a clear uptick in attendance, but those who made it to the fair Friday morning only had a short stay. Just after 1 p.m., Freedom 250 organizers announced the fair would be postponed until 5 p.m. due to the oppressive heat.
When the fair opens back up at 5, it will feature performances from Hugo Castillo, Grammy winner Mickey Smith Jr. and "The Voice" star Grace Moody Miller.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What we saw in DC as crowds gather before July 4th celebrations
Reporting by Mike Stunson, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 12:01 PM.