A Massachusetts resident decided to personally intervene after state leaders opted not to participate in the Great American State Fair, citing opposition to former President Donald Trump. She openly criticized the officials responsible for this decision.
Donna Festinger, who traveled from Massachusetts to the nation's capital at her own expense, stated her motivation was to ensure her state had a presence at the event commemorating 250 years of American independence. "I came here to represent Massachusetts because I didn't want the public to walk into an empty room. I wanted somebody to be there," Festinger explained.
Festinger is currently staffing the Massachusetts booth at the Great American State Fair, held on the National Mall as part of the Freedom 250 initiative, which runs from June 25 to July 10 and aligns with former President Trump's vision.
She conveyed a direct message to the leadership of Massachusetts and other states that chose not to participate in the commemorative celebration.
Festinger voiced significant disappointment, stating, "I'm very disappointed that Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts decided — their governments decided not to support this effort to celebrate our American heritage. It's actually shameful."
She specifically referenced Democratic Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, known for her public disagreements with former President Trump, remarking, "It makes me feel like they really don't love America or Massachusetts — my governor."
A former teacher, Festinger covered her own travel expenses to Washington, D.C., arriving at the outset of the celebration and intending to remain for the entire 16-day duration.
She speculated that her presence and the fair itself are "actually uniting people, Democrats, Republicans, independents, and agreeing that every state should be proud of our country." Festinger further added, "I think the Trump administration is working hard to bring the country together."
Governor's Response to the Fair
Meanwhile, Governor Healey, widely recognized for her strong opposition to former President Trump, reportedly derided the fair during an interview on Boston Public Radio.
When questioned about the possibility of welcoming Trump to Massachusetts, she reportedly responded that the former president is "too busy with his Great American State Fair down there that everybody’s bailing on."
Healey also made unsubstantiated assertions that Trump was utilizing the fair to "get money into his own pocket" and falsely stated that participating states were being charged a fee.
Additional Support at the Booth
Festinger's efforts at the Massachusetts booth recently received additional support.
Boston resident Judith Kalaora joined the stand, clad in a meticulously recreated Revolutionary War uniform. Her attire paid tribute to Deborah Sampson, a historical Massachusetts figure who famously disguised herself as a man to serve in the Continental Army against the British.
Kalaora expressed her hope that her presence would foster unity, stating, "I'm hopeful that my being here will unite folks to realize that Boston and Massachusetts have a great spirit, and that that spirit can unite the United States through our nation's heritage and through our military history."
She also affirmed her belief that "the United States of American has accomplished in 250 years than many other nations have accomplished in 400 or 500 years."
States Opting Out of Participation
A total of eleven states, each led by Democratic governors, chose not to participate in the fair.
Some of these decisions were explicitly tied to opposition to former President Trump. For instance, Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker cited what he termed Trump's "politicization of America 250 activities" as a reason for his state's non-participation.
Oregon's state leadership conveyed a similar perspective, though without directly naming Trump.
A statement from the office of Democratic Governor Tina Kotek indicated, "The State of Oregon will not be participating in the Great American State Fair due to both the cost of participating in the Fair and growing concerns that the event in Washington, D.C. is shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented."
Despite the political divisions, Kalaora expressed an enduring sense of optimism.
She stated, "Times change, and emotions change, and that's okay, as long as we still remember that we've done great things." Kalaora concluded by saying, "I'm happy to be here."
