‘A total disappointment’: revelers face unbearable heat at Great American State Fair

The Great American State Fair, a centerpiece of US 250th anniversary celebrations on the National Mall in Washington DC, drew sparse crowds early in the week before attendance increased Friday, only to be hammered by extreme heat exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. More than a dozen fairgoers were treated for heat illness, with 11 hospitalized, as visitors prioritized air-conditioned pavilions over interactive state exhibits. Some attendees criticized the fair's offerings as disappointing and complained the event had become overly partisan rather than patriotic.