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The Great American State Fair was packed this Independence Day, drawing crowds for a mix of holiday celebration and personal reflection.
As the festivities unfolded, attendees shared what spending the Fourth of July with their families means to them.
“It kind of makes us emotional because of our country and the people who died, you know, and gave up what they’ve done,” Tom Rutledge, a grandfather who traveled to the fair from Texas, told Fox News Digital.
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Rutledge brought his 13-year-old grandson along so he could experience the Fourth of July celebration firsthand.
“I wanted him at 13 to experience this,” Rutledge said. “There’s a gap, maybe, in our younger generation. The education… has not been really communicating what this country’s about, how many people love it.”
Americans attend the Great American State Fair during the “Salute to America” Independence Day celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2026. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP)
Despite those concerns, the fair’s youngest attendees showed plenty of patriotic spirit. Many young children expressed joy at being there, undeterred by long travels, storm warnings and summer heat waves.
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“I’m excited for the fireworks,” one young girl told her father, while another child could be heard cheering as planes flew low overhead.
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For the adults in the crowd, the fair offered a welcome reminder of national unity. A father who traveled from Florida said the best part of the day was simply being surrounded by fellow patriots, from the youth to the service members who protect the nation.
A proud grandfather shared why he brought his 13-year-old grandson to the fair: not just for the fun, but to bridge a generational gap and instill a deep respect for the country and those who served. (Fox News Digital)
“I’m just looking forward to being around all the American citizens who make this country awesome,” he said.
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That sense of community was on full display throughout the fairgrounds, where tight crowds seemed to bring out the best in people rather than testing their patience.
Judy drove with her family from Connecticut to support the state after officials withdrew support prior to the fair opening. (Fox News Digital)
“It is amazingly crowded, [and] people are amazingly nice,” one couple said. “We’re making friends!”
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They then gestured to another couple next to them, whom they had just met while waiting in line for the Ferris wheel. Despite hailing from different parts of the country — Tennessee and New Jersey — the new friends had quickly bonded over their shared patriotism and holiday spirit.
