Sponsors step up as NC officially sits out America 250 Fair

North Carolina is one of nine states that will not be sending an official delegation to the Great American State Fair taking place from June 25-July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Being billed as a modern-day World’s Fair, it will celebrate every state and territory in the union as the nation marks its 250^th anniversary. It will run from the US Capitol to the Washington Monument with classic state fair programming, featuring more than 150 exhibits from all 56 states and territories, businesses, innovators and civic organizations, blue ribbon livestock competitions, movies, music, military ensembles, flyovers, cultural programming, and a Ferris wheel.

But states not officially participating, including North Carolina, cite that it was too costly to run the pavilion allotted within approximately 600 to 750 square feet to showcase their state for the 16-day event.

Some media reported that the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR) estimated it would cost $100,000 to set up a pavilion.

While they didn’t confirm the $100,000 figure, Schorr Johnson, communications director for NC DNCR, told Carolina Journal in an emailed statement that they informed event organizers on April 6 that the department would be unable to participate due to costs. He said other state entities were invited to participate, including the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Visit NC, and they also determined they could not for similar budgetary reasons.

Rachel Reisner, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, the organizers of the fair, told Carolina Journal in an emailed statement that there was no set amount to showcase a state, but some did partner with organizations, companies and tourism bureaus to help to defer the cost.

But, the Tar Heel State will most definitely have a presence at the Great American State Fair.

Three businesses — SPEVCO, Richard Childress Racing, and Operation Helo — have stepped up to be the primary sponsors of the North Carolina pavilion.

Lorie Khatod, a volunteer organizing the North Carolina Pavilion, told CJ that the project will not cost North Carolina taxpayers any money, that participation costs were entirely at the discretion of each governor’s office, and sponsorships were encouraged to offset expenses.

When asked about why the state wasn’t officially participating, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Josh Stein told Carolina Journal in an emailed statement, “Governor Stein is excited to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, and he is glad that our state will be represented at the fair by two North Carolina companies [Operation Helo was announced after the statement was released]. Two hundred and fifty years ago, North Carolina led the way to American independence, and Governor Stein is pleased to honor our state’s First in Freedom legacy.”  

Still, others are questioning why the governor wasn’t supportive of the state officially taking part in the fair.

“It’s disappointing that Governor Stein is allowing petty politics to get in the way of North Carolina’s participation in a patriotic event celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” Demi Dowdy, a spokesperson for House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said in an emailed statement to CJ. “Instead, he has chosen to point the finger elsewhere rather than admit the truth—that he never notified the General Assembly there was a need for funds and clearly had his own partisan reasons for blocking our state’s participation in the Great American State Fair.”

In a post on X on Friday, Rep. Brendan Jones, R-Columbus, said, “Gov. Stein has manufactured this crisis, with the likes of Connecticut and Oregon, using America’s 250th celebration as a political pawn. However, the General Assembly has worked to ensure our state will be represented at the Great American Fair.”

Gov. Stein has manufactured this crisis, with the likes of Connecticut and Oregon, using America’s 250th celebration as a political pawn.

However, the General Assembly has worked to ensure our state will be represented at the Great American Fair. #ncpol https://t.co/LxcWYvt4jF

— Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) June 19, 2026

A spokesperson for Jones told Carolina Journal on Friday that both the governor and NC DNCR gave the $100,000 figure to his office and that both have the funds for sending a delegation, in things like their advertising budget or lapsed salaries, saying they are choosing not to spend the money and using the state’s budget as an excuse, along with politics.

“It’s disappointing that the governor and DNCR aren’t celebrating the 250th as a whole,” the spokesperson said.

They told CJ that concerned benefactors, other than the primary sponsors, have reached out to the General Assembly and are stepping up to send a delegation to Washington to ensure that North Carolina is properly represented.

Johnson said that in addition to not having the funds for the fair, DNCR advocated for legislative support for its statewide America 250 programming since before the public launch in 2024, and, to date, has not received any funding from the legislature for any of this year’s events.

He said the agency has had to fundraise for the events to take place, including the Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest at the State Capitol in Raleigh on July 4. So far, 150 events and festivals across the state have taken place, and almost 30 more engagements are scheduled after July 4.

Jones’ spokesperson told CJ that the legislature did appropriate funding for the state’s 250^th activities in the governor’s and DNCR’s budgets.

“We’re fully onboard with the funds available for the governor and DNCR,” they said, noting that again, Stein and the agency are choosing not to spend the money they have set aside in their budgets. They also noted that there is money that has been previously earmarked for all types of things related to the 250^th.

Sen. W. Ted Alexander, R-Cleveland, co-chair of the state’s America 250^th Committee, told Carolina Journal in an interview on Friday that while Stein didn’t directly respond to a letter that he sent, urging him to reconsider his decision to withdraw the state from participating in the fair, he did meet with a NC DNCR representative who explained why they wouldn’t attend. But, he is happy that the state will still be represented at the fair.

“I am glad that Richard Childress Racing and SPEVCO and another nonprofit have stepped up to the plate to represent North Carolina there,” he said. “And while I’m still disappointed our official state didn’t do it, I’m glad that we will have representation. And I think they will do a fine job for us. I do think it’s a testimony to the great nature of our folks here in North Carolina and the patriotic nature of these folks who have stepped up to showcase the many good things about North Carolina to the rest of the country.”

Khatod said that she was saddened to hear that there wouldn’t be an official presence in Washington in a released statement, adding that it was “shameful that Governor Stein declined to participate.” She said she volunteered to organize the pavilion to “help ensure our state had a place at this national event.”

The theme is the Spirit of North Carolina: First in Flight, Fast on the Track, Strong in the Storm,” and will feature the Wright brothers historic first flight, the state’s deep racing heritage with the #3 NASCAR and racing simulator, and the response of volunteers and organizations that stepped forward during Hurricane Helene. It will also showcase North Carolina’s heritage, innovation, agriculture, workforce development and community spirit. A trailer will display North Carolina’s state motto First in Freedom, which Khatod said is “a reminder of the independent spirit and love of liberty that have shaped our state since its founding.”

You can visit the Freedom250.org website for more information on the Great American State Fair,

“Sponsors step up as NC officially sits out America 250 Fair” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.