Trump's Great American State Fair shuts down until 5 p.m. as temperatures climb to triple digits

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Weather

Updated Jul 3, 2026, 1:10 PM ET
PUBLISHED Jul 3, 2026, 3:01 AM ET


The dangerous, multi-day heat wave is tightening its grip on the eastern United States, shattering records, straining the electric grid and raising the risk for millions of people preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July outdoors. At least 20 locations broke or tied daily temperature records Thursday. Multiple East Coast cities were hotter than Phoenix, the southwestern desert city known for breathtaking heat, including New York and Newark. Here’s the latest:

• Great American State Fair shuts down: Organizers for the fair, taking place on the National Mall, announced Friday that the event was closing, with plans to reopen at 5 p.m. It’s unclear if the shutdown was due to heat.

• Parade canceled: Philadelphia has canceled its Friday Independence Day parade “due to extreme heat,” according to a post from the event organizers. The parade was expected to be one of the nation’s largest this holiday weekend, with participants from every state.

• DC’s Capitol Fourth plays on: The public will still be able to attend the US Capitol Fourth concert on Capitol Hill Friday, the US Capitol Police announced. Gates will open at 7 p.m. with a concert start of 8 p.m. Police strongly urged attendees to “bring an ample supply of water to stay hydrated.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/03/weather/heat-wave-nyc-dc-forecast-climate

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3 pm - 5 pm is around when the max temp hits and the sun doesn't set for another 3.5 hours after that.

I already hit 98 today as a high so far, with a dewpoint of 82. Phoenix is 91 with a dewpoint of 32. Big ass difference!

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Wait until there's a giant release of hot air followed by fireworks!

People should be wearing masks!

[democratsruletheday]

2. it's ALMOST as if the stars aren't aligning for Trumpler and his fuck sticks anymore.....

and I love it of course. They are circling the GD drain and I'm here for it.

[Norrrm]

3. They kicked out all 5 people?

[underpants]

6. 👍

[PatSeg]

15. Apparently that kind of heat can cause mirages

I wonder how ketchup supplies are holding up in the White House.

[yardwork]

4. I'll bet they shut it down because nobody is there.

[WSHazel]

5. How can they tell it is shut down?

There was nobody there to begin with.

[Talitha]

17. * snort *

This is brilliant - I love it!!

[underpants]

7. Too cheap to install AC or even misting tents.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221346339

[mwb970]

8. Where are all the "This is God's wrath" people?

When something bad happens in a blue state, they say it is God punishing liberals for demanding fairness, equality and justice for all Americans. With God now literally setting trump's egofest on fire we don't hear from them. Strange, that.

[Vogon_Glory]

10. We wouldn't hear from them even if

a brigade of Almighty God’s holy Archangels accompanied by flocks of singing cherubim
Was walking through the National Mall passing out pamphlets detailing the Almighty’s displeasure with the actions of Donald John What’s-his-name and Donald John’s followers and enablers.

Trust me, the silence would be deafening!

[Vogon_Glory]

9. It's Too Darn Hot--lyrics that will be banned in MAGA-fied America

Wanna take a bet that they wouldn’t?

[Vinca]

11. It's horribly hot in southern NH. I absolutely hate it. I've got outdoor things I need to be working on and they

aren't getting done. I got as far as 15 minutes in the garden early in the morning and could barely stand that. Brings out every flying pesky bug in the universe, too, which adds to the enjoyment. At least it's ripening the tomatoes . . .

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I have tomato blossoms that will never get pollinated

as long as the night temps stay above 75.

[Vinca]

16. Most of them are self-pollinating and have the male/female goods inside the blossom. They do need a little

movement which usually happens from a breeze, so you could try giving them a little shake.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Pollination is temperature-sensitive

A well-known issue -

Heat Stress and Tomatoes

Tomato Pollination and Excessive Heat

How excessive heat affects the vegetable garden

This is why places like TX and FL that have commercial crops of tomatoes, basically have to be done by April before the excessive heat hits.

[Vinca]

21. Oh, I didn't know that. Guess I was lucky they started forming before it got too hot.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. That"s the hope

These current freak daytime temps are not as much an issue as too-warm night temps!

[yardwork]

22. Same.

We have some cherry tomatoes, but I think so far we've gotten a total of two from the two bigger varieties.

Even when they set fruit it doesn't ripen.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. Mine is a "Sweet 100" (haven't grown in years)

and although it likes the heat and put out a bunch of blossoms, I am hoping some pollinated before this heatwave got started.

[ananda]

13. 5pm makes zero sense.

It doesn't really start cooling off till after dark,
and not by that much.

[twodogsbarking]

20. So midnight it is.

[mcar]

14. So they're going to reopen when it's even hotter

[twodogsbarking]

19. So MTG was right and the Dems are controlling the weather? But of course.

[yardwork]

23. Did it reopen? It's now 5:20 in DC.

[IronLionZion]

26. It's 96 F right now at 7:37 PM

in case anyone thought it might be cooler after 5 PM.