Washington has a new pastime: Roasting the Great American State Fair.

Why it matters: The Trump administration-backed Freedom 250 event stumbled before it even opened, with musicians canceling, states pulling out and food vendors jumping ship.

• Now that it's underway, critics are comparing it to D.C.'s version of Glasgow's infamous Willy Wonka experience — so of course we had to check it out on "MAHA Monday."

What they're saying: Washingtonian called the event "bleak." The Washington Post deemed it "crushingly dull," likening it to "a trade show for Christian groups, tourist boards and the military industrial complex."

• Online, people are posting photos of sparse crowds, flimsy-looking booths, underwhelming state exhibits and pricey food.

Reality check: When Axios stopped by, there was a bigger crowd than one would expect on a blistering weekday — the longest lines we spotted were outside the [Department of] "War" booth, and the Florida tent (credit a mini mini-golf course and "Florida Man" wall).

• Empty booths left behind by states including Maine, Washington and Oregon have been repurposed by Freedom 250 volunteers stamping visitors' "passports."
• In the vacant Hawaii space, in front of a mural with Barack Obama, a tourist wearing a "Surfers for Trump" shirt greeted visitors. He told Axios he's not a volunteer — but grabbed a passport stamper because "our tourism authority who has a big budget doesn't like us."

Zoom in: Weekend headlines added to the criticism.

• A Confederate flag was featured in a privately funded North Carolina booth (it's since been removed).
• Separately, police arrested a man for "lewd, indecent, or obscene acts" at the fair.

Yes, but: Supporters are defending the event as a success, posting pics of crowds.

• Meanwhile, the Trust for the National Mall expects to see almost 50 million visitors to the Mall this year, up from the usual 36 million, reports the Washington Post.

Anna's thought bubble: The fair is shaping up to be a carnival of contrasts.

• Here you'll find messages of bipartisan unity next to pro-Trump displays, nostalgic Americana beside AI innovation. At Maryland's booth, an AI camera sends visitors to "Colonial Annapolis" — where, thanks to a glitch, everyone becomes a colonial-era man.

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Monday's theme, "Everyday Health and Well-Being," kicked off with a protein pancake-eating competition and wound down with conservative commentator Michael Knowles.

• Per the organizers: "If you're curious about feeling better, living longer, and doing it the American way, this is the place to be."

Yes, but: The fair's menu tells a different story.

• While MAHA board member "Doctor Pompa" warned about overused vaccines and breast implants, vendors nearby sold cheese-stuffed pretzel dogs and fries cooked in vegetable oil.
• "Holistic Hilda" influencer Hilda Labrada Gore encouraged attendees to embrace the "LOGS" diet — local, organic, seasonal and traditional foods — as I bit into a $16 corn dog whose batter was partially raw.

Best bite: Especially for the MAHA message, a massive smoked turkey leg (protein!) that's cooked over an open fire on the fair's sidelines.

• It ain't cheap ($30+), but it's the one Great American State Fair roast everyone can get behind.

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With days to go until D.C.'s amped-up July 4 fireworks show, key details — including a shift to a later start time — remain unclear.

Why it matters: With ground stops and inauguration-level security, D.C. is bracing for an unusually disruptive Fourth of July this year.

⏳ State of play: At a public safety briefing yesterday, Mayor Bowser said that the fireworks "won't begin until 11pm," lasting approximately 45 minutes.

• That's later than the 10:30pm start time advertised last week by Freedom 250.
• Freedom 250 did not answer Axios' questions on the record.

Zoom out: July 4 is being treated as a National Special Security Event for the first time in D.C. history.

• The public will need to submit to a "TSA-style magnetometer screening" to enter the Mall, said Tara McLeese of the Secret Service, with only a small clear bag or purse permitted.
• But she added "there will be no ID check," contradicting previous guidance from Freedom 250.

✈️ In addition to Mall festivities, rolling military flyovers will begin in the afternoon.

• Flights will be grounded at Reagan National Airport for 15 hours in the lead-up: from 10am to 1pm on July 3rd and from noon to midnight on July 4.
• "These times are subject to change," the FAA added.

Another fireworks show will also take place at Anacostia Park, a new event this year.

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🔥 It's about to get reaaaaal hot: A heat dome will descend upon Washington starting Wednesday and run through Friday, with possible record-breaking temps. Heat index values are expected to hit 107 to 112 degrees. (WTOP)

🎶 The man who went viral last year for playing the "Star Wars" song at National Guard members in D.C. has settled with the District government and several of its police officers. This is after he alleged his rights were violated after police detained him. (WaPo)

💡 The Monument will light up again for July 4 — but this time the display will stretch for five nights from Wednesday to Sunday. Expect an 18-minute projection show celebrating the 250th birthday. (D.C. News Now)

The D.C. area's best chefs, bars and restaurants were celebrated last night at the 44th annual RAMMYS Awards.

Why it matters: It's Washington's biggest night for the restaurant industry — think the local equivalent of the James Beard Awards. Even landing a nomination is brag-worthy.

Among the 2026 winners:

• Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Albi, chef Michael Rafidi's acclaimed Levantine restaurant, which also recently earned a rare four-star review — and first outside NYC — from The New York Times.
• New Restaurant of the Year: The Occidental, restaurateur Stephen Starr's polished revival of the downtown classic near the White House.
• Chef of the Year: Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss of The Popal Group, the team behind Lutece, Maison Bar à Vins and Pascual.

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The Artemis II crew will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the July 4 Nats game, per a release shared with Axios.

Why it matters: The four astronauts just crewed the first lunar flyby in over 50 years, and now they're blasting off to their most harrowing destination yet: Navy Yard.

State of play: The Nats will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 11:05am on America's birthday.

What we're watching: We're not quite sure how four people can simultaneously pitch one ball ... but if anyone can figure it out, it's a bunch of people who learned how to pee in zero-G.