The Great American State Fair is kicking off on Thursday morning, as residents from across the country flock to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. 

Event organizers, led by Freedom 250, have been planning the 16-day festival for months as part of a landmark initiative including all 50 states to mark the semiquincentennial. Fair attendees will have the opportunity through July 10 to see exhibitions featuring each state, stop by a rodeo, ride a towering Ferris wheel, and sample food vendors, all on the National Mall.