Trump’s Great American State Fair Shut Down Abruptly

Extreme heat forced organizers to temporarily close the Great American State Fair on the National Mall Friday afternoon after temperatures climbed to 102 degrees and the heat index topped 110 degrees.

Freedom 250, the organization overseeing the event, announced on social media that the closure was made out of concern for the safety of visitors, volunteers, performers, vendors and staff. Organizers said they expected conditions to improve later in the day and planned to reopen the fair at 5 p.m. as preparations continued for the evening’s events.

The dangerous heat has disrupted several celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary. In Philadelphia, officials canceled a planned parade just hours before it was scheduled to begin because of the extreme temperatures.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump was scheduled to travel to South Dakota on Friday evening to deliver remarks at Mount Rushmore National Memorial ahead of a fireworks display celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.