Summer’s here, and that means Americans are marking their calendars for state fair season.

On Thursday, the Great American State Fair kicks off on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., a massive event that officials describe as a “modern-day World’s Fair,” according to its website.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature more than 150 exhibits representing all states and U.S. territories — as well as a gigantic Ferris wheel.

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Attendees can explore state pavilions and industry displays while enjoying family-friendly attractions, movie screenings, live musical performances and military ensembles, according to its website, as well as daily cultural programming and aerial flyovers.

For those outside the Beltway, some of the nation’s most iconic state fairs offer their own blend of food, entertainment and local traditions.

Organizers describe the Great American State Fair as a modern-day World’s Fair celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Here’s a look at standout fairs from six regions of the country as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Northeast: The Big E (Massachusetts)

The Big E, the largest fair in the Northeast, describes itself as the fourth-largest fair in North America.

The event “offers a diverse and vibrant experience to visitors from throughout the country,” according to its website.

“Attendees can enjoy hours of free entertainment and attractions, terrific food, plus the best that New England — and beyond — has to offer,” the website says.

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“Highlights include authentic New Orleans Mardi Gras in The Big Parade, an immersive Ireland adventure in the International Plaza’s Dingle Peninsula Showcase, North American Midway, as well as countless educational opportunities, from the Avenue of States to Storrowton Village Museum, Farm-A-Rama and more.”

The fair runs in West Springfield, Massachusetts, from Sept. 18 to Oct. 4, 2026.

The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts, draws visitors from across New England with food, entertainment and regional exhibits. (Getty Images/John Atashian)

South: North Carolina State Fair

The North Carolina State Fair is held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

The fair, which is also an agricultural exposition, is a long-running tradition that began in 1853.

Tar Heel State officials say that last year’s state fair attracted 946,811 attendees.

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“The fair creates an experience unique to North Carolina and is an unparalleled value, with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights,” the event’s website reads.

The North Carolina State Fair takes place from Oct. 15 to Oct. 25, 2026.

The North Carolina State Fair has been a Tar Heel State tradition since 1853, featuring agriculture, rides and family activities. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)

Midwest: Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair’s website describes the event as “one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.”

The event is held in the city of Falcon Heights near St. Paul and often attracts up to two million visitors per year.

“What began in 1855 as a territorial fair to highlight agriculture and encourage farming in the region became the Minnesota State Fair in 1859, a year after Minnesota was granted statehood,” the website says.

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“The State Fair’s mission is to educate and involve our guests by providing a world-class showcase that is innovative, entertaining and fun,” the website says.

The Minnesota State Fair takes place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7 this year.

The Minnesota State Fair attracts up to two million visitors annually and remains one of the region’s most popular destinations. (iStock)

Southwest: State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is held annually at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, and runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 this year.

“Since its establishment in 1886, the State Fair of Texas has promoted Texas agriculture, education and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment,” the state fair’s website reads.

“At 24 consecutive days, the State Fair of Texas is the longest-running fair in the nation, as well as one of the largest.”

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Texas officials say the fair “serves not only as an annual celebration, but as a unique destination that brings people from all walks of life together to create lifelong memories.”

The fair is perhaps best known for Big Tex, its iconic 55-foot-tall cowboy mascot, and its ever-expanding lineup of deep-fried foods.

The State Fair of Texas combines agricultural exhibits, live entertainment and some of the fair industry’s most famous fried foods. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

West Coast: California State Fair

The California State Fair takes place from July 17 to Aug. 2, 2026.

This year’s fair promises “rides, live concerts [and] strolling performing acts,” according to its website.

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The fair also features a Commercial Wine Competition, where wineries showcase some of California’s top vintages, as well as agricultural exhibits, livestock competitions and live entertainment.

Food offerings include classic fair staples such as funnel cakes, corn dogs and barbecue, along with California-inspired fare like fish tacos and poke bowls.

Visitors to the California State Fair can enjoy classic fair food along with California-inspired dishes and live performances. (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Mountain West/Plains: Nebraska State Fair

Held annually in Grand Island, Nebraska, the Nebraska State Fair is one of the premier agricultural events in the Great Plains.

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The fair features concerts, carnival rides, food vendors and family-friendly attractions, as well as livestock competitions and agricultural exhibits.

The Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island highlights agriculture, livestock competitions and family-friendly attractions. (iStock)

According to the fair’s website, visitors can catch a variety of free entertainment this year, including performances by country vocal group Home Free, Christian artist Phil Wickham and disco legends KC & The Sunshine Band.

The fair will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7, 2026.

A liberal writer for MS NOW is hitting the panic button over Tuesday’s primary sweep of Democratic candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani’s hand-picked Democratic Socialist hopefuls Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez — all of whom are anti-Israel advocates — won their primary races in deep blue congressional districts, two of them ousting incumbent Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, all but securing their seats in the November midterms.

Michael A. Cohen (no relation to former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen) decried their victories on social media.

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“This is a genuinely scary night for New York City Jews,” Cohen reacted on X.

Cohen doubled down after a critic responded to his post insisting “it’s just Israel war politics, and definitely NOT the Jewish people,” which Cohen replied, “F— off.”

Socialist New York congressional nominees Darializa Avila Chevalier (L), Claire Valdez (C) and Brad Lander. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“Liberals have absolutely convinced themselves that there is no anti-Semitism on the left … even though there are practically daily examples of it,” Cohen wrote in response to another X post. “This is why Jews are so concerned. They live, work and organize on the left and yet their supposed allies defiantly refuse to acknowledge there is a problem.”

The MS NOW writer called out Lander, who Cohen accused of admitting to “promoting anti-Semitic tropes” after the Jewish Mamdani ally acknowledged in an interview he felt “queasy” attacking the pro-Israel group AIPAC because of the insinuations regarding Jews, money and power, but said “I have to” in order to ascend in progressive politics.

Tuesday’s primaries cemented Mamdani’s status as a kingmaker in the Democratic Party. And his three endorsed candidates have been openly hostile towards Israel following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.

“As a proud Jewish New Yorker, I will join you in that fight to end occupation and apartheid and genocide,” Lander said at a rally alongside Mamdani earlier this month.

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Democratic Congressional candidate Brad Lander speaks at an election eve rally in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on June 22, 2026. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Darializa Avila Chevalier attended a pro-Palestinian rally held in Times Square on Oct. 8, 2023, just one day after the terrorist attack responsible for 1,200 murdered Israelis, though she insists she “would never celebrate the death of any human being.”

On her campaign website, Claire Valdez accused the federal government of sending “billions to fund genocide in Palestine.”

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Maryland deputies say one woman challenged Taco Bell employees to “meet her outside,” lifted her shirt to reveal a handgun and placed her hand on the weapon’s grip during an argument over how long it was taking to get her food.

Ashley Andrews, 30, was arrested June 18 after deputies responded to a Taco Bell in Chester, Maryland, for reports of a customer displaying a firearm during a confrontation with employees, according to the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff.

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The new Taco Bell Live Mas Café is seen in Spring, Texas, on Nov. 18, 2025. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Restaurant workers told deputies Andrews became angry about the wait time for her order and told staff members to meet her in the parking lot before allegedly revealing the handgun and using threatening language.

When deputies arrived, they detained Andrews and another individual from her group who authorities said was involved in an ongoing verbal dispute. Authorities said a loaded firearm was recovered from Andrews’ person.

Investigators later reviewed surveillance video and personal video recorded by an employee that appeared to support the workers’ account, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Authorities said Ashley Andrews became upset over a delayed food order and allegedly displayed a handgun during an argument with employees at a Maryland Taco Bell. ( Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff)

Deputies said the footage showed Andrews lifting her shirt to display the handgun and placing her hand on the grip of the firearm while continuing to argue with employees.

The confrontation unfolded at a Taco Bell located in the Kent Town Market shopping center on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

A loaded firearm was recovered from Andrews when deputies arrived, authorities said.

According to reporting from Law&Crime, court records show Andrews was initially held on a $5,000 bond before posting bail and securing release the following day.

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A Taco Bell restaurant is illuminated at night in Woodland, Calif. (iStock)

She was charged with second-degree assault, handgun on person, disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities also said she was also banned from the Taco Bell property.

According to Law&Crime, Andrews is being represented by a public defender and invoked her right to a speedy trial. A court appearance is scheduled for July.

The primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District has emerged as the second-most expensive House primary race on record after becoming a high-stakes proxy battle over artificial intelligence (AI) regulation.

The race — which covers Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Upper West Side and Midtown — saw a staggering $26.3 million in ad spending, according to AdImpact Politics. 

Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District between Thomas Massie and Ed Gallrein, held this year, reportedly ranked first with $33.2 million in ad spending. 

Election results showed Micah Lasher, a strong advocate for stricter AI regulations, defeating state Rep. Alex Bores, a tech expert who campaigned heavily on safety concerns.

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State Assembly member Alex Bores (D-NY) is surrounded by supporters at his watch party at The Freehand Hotel after conceding the congressional race to Micah Lasher on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Laura Brett/Getty Images)

The contest was decided by a narrow margin, with Lasher securing 39% of the vote and Bores receiving 35% as they competed to replace longtime Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. 

Bores, a former data scientist at Palantir who holds a master’s degree in computer science, became a key target in the broader fight between competing factions of the AI industry.

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State Representative Micah Lasher, a Democrat from New York and US House candidate, during a primary election night watch party in New York, US, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

According to AdImpact Politics, $9.3 million was spent supporting Bores, who also faced the largest share of attack ad spending, with $3.6 million in negative ads targeting him.

Beyond ad spending, the Silicon Valley-backed super PAC Leading the Future spent more than $8 million opposing Bores’ nomination in an effort to keep tech-skeptical lawmakers out of Washington, according to the Hill.

The group is funded by major tech figures including OpenAI President Greg Brockman and venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.

Meanwhile, multiple AI safety groups spent more than $20 million backing Bores, the Hill reported, highlighting the deep divide within the tech community over how aggressively the government should regulate artificial intelligence.

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Campaign signage for State Rep. Micah Lasher is displayed during a primary election in New York on June 23, 2026. (John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Lasher received $8.6 million in support spending, while $1.6 million was spent on attack ads targeting him, according to AdImpact Politics.

Beyond the AI policy battle, billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg poured millions of his own money to support Lasher’s campaign, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) documents.

The seafood delivery worker accused of stabbing a man near Nantucket’s busy ferry docks claims police video shows he acted in self-defense after being attacked from behind in the heart of the ritzy island’s downtown, his attorney told Fox News Digital.

Kemar Downer, 40, a Sayle’s Seafood employee, was arraigned Wednesday morning in Nantucket District Court on two charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

“The video corroborates Kemar’s statements,” his attorney, Rob Moriarty, told Fox News Digital , describing the footage as showing “complete and total self-defense.”

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“The video was amazing for them,” Moriarty said of the defense.

Kemar Downer, 40, a Sayle’s Seafood employee, was arraigned Wednesday morning in Nantucket District Court on two charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. (Jason Graziadei / Nantucket Current)

Moriarty said the altercation was “over a girl,” The Inquirer and Mirror reported.

Moriarty said the video shows the alleged victim, a Reis Trucking employee whom he described as larger than Downer, coming up behind his client and punching him several times in the back of the head.

“He surprised him, punches him like three times in the back of the head,” Moriarty said. “Kind of knocks him into something. I can’t tell exactly what it was. He was leaning over at the time.”

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The attorney said the man then kicked Downer multiple times before the knife came out.

“And then as he’s kicking him, that’s when I think the knife comes out,” Moriarty said.

A few passengers ride the 11:55 high speed ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket as it leaves Hyannis Harbor in Hyannis, MA on March 18, 2020.  (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The stabbing erupted Tuesday morning on South Beach Street, a downtown stretch near the Steamship Authority ferry terminal, where summer visitors pour onto Nantucket with beach bags and luggage before fanning out toward the island’s cobblestoned streets.

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Nantucket police previously said officers responded at 10:23 a.m. to South Beach Street between Broad Street and Oak Street for a reported stabbing. The injured person was treated at the scene and rushed to Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

Downer was released on $2,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim, have no contact with him, wear a GPS tracking device and remain at least 25 yards from the alleged victim’s home, according to The Inquirer and Mirror.

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Moriarty also argued in court that Downer should not have been held overnight because there was a chance he could have been arraigned Tuesday, the outlet reported.

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“Nantucket police essentially decided they were not going to abide by the Constitution, because they think they’re above it,” Moriarty said, according to The Inquirer and Mirror.

Evening light falls on boats as they bob in the harbor of Nantucket, MA on Aug. 13, 2020.  (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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According to a police report cited by the outlet, Downer told investigators he was delivering juice to The Juice Bar, a popular ice cream shop on the island, when the Reis Trucking employee began punching him in the back of the head.

Downer allegedly told police he did not know the man, though they were from the same parish in Jamaica. He said he turned around, was kicked and then pulled a pocketknife from his waistband, swinging it toward the alleged victim two or three times, according to the report cited by the outlet.

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A witness also told police that Downer went into The Juice Bar looking for another knife in case the alleged victim returned, and grabbed a 10- to 12-inch kitchen knife before employees took it away, The Inquirer and Mirror reported.

The alleged victim suffered what sources believe was a punctured lung and had a 2.5-inch open laceration on his left arm that was likely to require surgery and leave significant scarring, according to the outlet.

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The wounded man ran toward “The Strip” on Broad Street, an area packed with casual restaurants and takeout spots, before returning toward his truck near the end of South Beach Street, where bystanders helped him, the report said.

While Nantucket is home to beaches, a historic downtown and outdoor recreation that attract summer visitors, health officials say tick-borne illnesses remain a persistent concern. (iStock)

Downer was arrested nearby on South Beach Street by Nantucket police Sgt. Travis Ray after being found sitting in a chair on the sidewalk, The Inquirer and Mirror reported.

The daytime violence rattled Nantucket as the wealthy coastal enclave enters peak summer season, when its year-round population swells with vacationers, day-trippers, seasonal workers and affluent homeowners.

Three Wendy’s employees in South Carolina were arrested after allegedly pulling food from the trash and spitting on it before serving it to a customer who had complained about her initial order.

Aaliyah Shuntai Sanders, 23, Trinity Lashell Rice, 19, and Shadela Crystal Holley were all charged with tampering with a human drug product or food item following the incident at a Wendy’s in the city of Union.

Fox Carolinas reported that all three suspects were arrested separately between June 16 and June 22.

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Trinity Lashell Rice (left), Aaliyah Shuntai Sanders (center), Shadella Holley (right) allegedly took food from the trash and spat on it before serving it to an unhappy customer. (Union Public Safety)

The incident occurred on May 31 when a customer ordered from the drive-thru but encountered an issue with her meal. When she requested a refund, staff members took the food back. However, the employees then offered to remake the order, which the customer ultimately accepted before driving away.

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The image shows a close-up of a Wendy’s meal. (Matthew Staver/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

While driving, the customer received a phone call from someone at the restaurant who informed her that an employee had pulled her food from a trash can and spat on it.

Upon checking the meal, the woman realized the “new” order was actually the same food from her initial order.

She immediately contacted the police to report the incident. The victim also called the store to speak with the restaurant manager, who confirmed he had spoken with the staff and verified the allegations. The manager noted that all three employees involved had been written up.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the fast-food chain for comment.