Smithsonian Folklife Festival Gives Way to Trump’s Patriotic Fair

The Smithsonian Institution and federal officials announced this week that the long-standing Smithsonian Folklife Festival will be displaced from its traditional location on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., during the summer of 2025 to make room for President Donald Trump’s inaugural 'Great American State Fair.' The decision to prioritize the patriotic fair marks a significant shift in the use of the capital’s most iconic public space during the peak tourism season, effectively pausing a cultural tradition that has remained a fixture of the city's summer landscape for over half a century. The move is part of the administration's broader initiative to emphasize national pride and traditional American values through centralized federal celebrations. Established in 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has historically served as a vibrant international stage, showcasing the diverse traditions, music, and crafts of various global cultures and American regional identities. By contrast, the Great American State Fair is envisioned as a massive patriotic celebration, expected to feature agricultural displays, state-specific exhibitions, and entertainment designed to honor the heritage of the fifty states. While the Folklife Festival often takes on an educational and anthropological tone, the new fair is framed as a high-energy, populist tribute to the American spirit, aligning with the president's 'America First' messaging. Logistically, the transition presents a massive undertaking for the National Park Service and the Smithsonian, as the National Mall can typically only accommodate one event of this magnitude at a time due to turf protection and security protocols. While the Smithsonian may look for alternative venues or digital formats for its programming, the loss of the Mall's high-traffic footprint is a blow to the festival's visibility. Supporters of the Folklife Festival have expressed concern over the break in tradition, while proponents of the Great American State Fair argue that the National Mall is the ideal venue for a large-scale celebration of domestic achievements and national unity.