In 2023, President Donald Trump proposed a 250th anniversary celebration at the Iowa fairgrounds, which began over the 2025 anniversary weekend. The state appears to be preparing itself.
Fireworks back to Mount Rushmore for 250th birthday in 2026
Fireworks will be revived in 2026 at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for the July 4th celebration.
Straight Arrow News
Iowa lawmakers passed a bill banning restrictions on fireworks displays on July 4, paving the way for a year-long celebration praised by President Donald Trump ahead of America’s 250th birthday next summer.
Iowa Senate File 303 prohibits local governments from regulating the use of fireworks by Iowa residents on July 3 and 4. After passing the House, the bill is headed to the desk of Republican Kim Reynolds.
The bill comes two years after Trump proposed the idea for the great American state fair in Iowa in July 2026, and two years after Trump proposed it for the country’s anniversary milestone.
“Current law allows patchwork of ordinances, a trap for Iowa’s careless patriotic Americans. They just want to celebrate our founder father and the day of independence in the way it was intended for centuries.” “If there are too many Iowa communities, they can’t do that.”
The fate of the bill is in Reynolds’ hands, so here’s what you need to know about the law.
If I pass, what will the Iowa Fireworks Bill do?
If signed into law by Reynolds, Senate File 303 prohibits city and county governments from regulating or banning Iowan consumer fireworks use on July 3rd and 4th and December 31st for the Great Year Day.
In a 2024 social media post, Reynolds said Iowa is “prepared to host the Great American State Fair.”
Reynolds will make a decision within 30 days of May 12th.
What is the Great American Fair?
In 2023, Trump proposed the idea of hosting the Great American Fair. The event will be headquartered in Iowa State Fairgrounds, as it will run from 2025 Anniversary to July 4, 2026, Trump said the event will be headquartered in Iowa State Fairgrounds. Although plans for such events have not been shared yet.
“President Trump announces patriotism in the hearts of Americans across the country,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement to USA Today. “The Great American State Fair is an unforgettable celebration of our country’s heritage before it celebrates its historic 250th anniversary.”
In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250.
As outlined in the order and led by Trump, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and carrying out the “extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence” on July 4, 2026. The task force is responsible for the creation of the sculpture garden, which the president first proposed in 2020, held in July 2020.
“My hope is that the incredible people in Iowa will work with my administration to hold the legendary Iowa fair, host the Great American State Fair and welcome millions of visitors from around the world to America’s Heartland for this special one-off festival,” Trump said in a 2023 video.
Is the Great American Fair really happening?
Despite Trump’s executive order, plans for the official Great American Fair are still in place.
“We are biased and believe that Iowa Fair is the best, but at this point we have not received any official requests or inquiries from the Great American Fair,” Iowa Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons told USA Today on May 13.
However, the US Semiquincentennial, also known as America250, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the 250th anniversary nationwide. America250 lists several events across the country on its website, but does not mention any details about the Great American Fair.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to add new information and statements from the White House.
Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Story ideas? Please email her gcross@usatoday.com.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers Iowa State Capitol and politics on the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by telephone at 515-284-8169. Follow him with X @grubermiller.
Sabine Martin covers the politics of the register. She may be contacted by email at sabine.martin@gannett.com or by telephone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on @sabinefmartin’s X.
