Visitors take bottles of water from a bucket at the Great American State Fair during “Salute to America 250” Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall on July 04, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
2:23 PM – Saturday, July 4, 2026

Record-breaking heat has threatened celebrations in Washington, D.C., as America marks the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence.

The Great American State Fair, a 16-day event on the National Mall, was postponed on Saturday after the heat wave reportedly caused multiple people to faint on Friday.

“With warm temperatures expected, guests are encouraged to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, apply sunscreen, take breaks in the shade, utilize cooling areas, and look out for family and friends,” the organizing committee wrote in a social media post on Friday.

People from across the country flocked to the Nation’s Capital for the once-in-a-lifetime event featuring booths that represent all 50 states.

 

“We are so blessed to live in the best country in the world,” Whitney Thomas, a mother from North Carolina who traveled with her family for the Great American State Fair, told Fox News on Friday. She told the outlet that her family was able to enjoy the festivities despite the heat.

Still, the president is expected to give a long address at a rally later in the evening.

President Donald Trump joked at a speaking event earlier in the week, “on July 4th, it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out and I’m gonna go and I’m gonna make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything.”

 

National Independence Day Parade, hosted by the National Park Service (NPS) in D.C., was also canceled due to extreme heat warnings from the National Weather Service.

Philadelphia canceled its Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, one of the largest planned events of the holiday nationwide. Parade organizer Wawa Welcome America’s CEO, Michael DelBene, said that hosting such a large event would be dangerous in the heat wave.

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