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A nationwide state fair on the National Mall and a youth athletic event calling for "one young man and one young woman from each state and territory" to compete against each other are among the marquee events planned to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in 2026, per NBC Washington.
In a video released on Thursday (December 18), President Donald Trump announced the 250th anniversary plans, outlining a series of high-profile events leading up to July 4, 2026, which he described as "the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen."
The Great American State Fair will take place on the National Mall from June 25 through July 10, featuring pavilions representing all 50 states and serving as the centerpiece of Independence Day festivities in the capital.
Trump also announced the “Patriot Games,” a four-day athletic competition scheduled for the fall during which high school student-athletes from every state and U.S. territory will face off against each other in Washington. The president said the competition will include “one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” emphasizing that the participants are students, not adults.
Other planned events include a National Prayer Event on the Mall in the spring, a Memorial Day “Spirit of America” parade honoring fallen service members, and a large-scale Fourth of July celebration featuring a military flyover, a presidential address, and what Trump called “the largest fireworks display in the world.”
Trump also confirmed plans for a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, which coincides with Flag Day and his birthday, hosted by UFC CEO Dana White, as well as the construction of a triumphal arch and a garden of statues honoring “American heroes.”
The anniversary celebrations will be overseen by Freedom 250, a national nonprofit organization created to coordinate America 250 events, with former Under Secretary of State Keith Krach serving as its CEO.
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