As Americans marked the 250th anniversary of independence, the nation’s largest planned celebration unfolded less like a unified commemoration and more like a stress test — of weather, logistics and competing visions of patriotism.
In Washington, D.C., the centerpiece “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall drew a few early crowds Saturday, but quickly became one of the most visible examples of how extreme heat is reshaping the holiday weekend. Temperatures climbed into the 90s with heat indices exceeding 100 degrees, forcing organizers to scale back outdoor programming, expand cooling stations and urge visitors to take frequent breaks. The full fair was canceled early on Friday and altered significantly for Saturday.
