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WASHINGTON \u2014 Pennsylvania is not participating in President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s Great American State Fair, which kicked off Wednesday, after state leaders failed to find a company willing to represent it at one of the hallmark 250th anniversary events in Washington that some say have become overly partisan.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania\u2019s state government, like those in some other Democratic-led states, had already chosen to not sponsor a booth at the 16-day fair. Gov. Josh Shapiro<\/a>\u2019s office had still been trying to connect Freedom 250, the nonprofit behind the fair, with organizations and companies that could represent the state, according to federal and state sources familiar with the planning.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, due to the high cost to taxpayers and not being able to secure PA businesses to sponsor the booth, Pennsylvania will not be a participant in the Great American State Fair,\u201d the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development said in a statement.<\/p>\n The fair, being held at the National Mall to celebrate the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary, was originally planned to feature a pavilion dedicated to each state and territory. <\/p>\n But as tourists visited Thursday on the fair\u2019s first full day, there were no signs of the commonwealth where American democracy was born 250 years ago. <\/p>\n Almost every other state was showcased \u2014 with most sending state or local government staff and tourism boards to host educational or interactive exhibits. <\/p>\n Cape May<\/a> County, a Republican stronghold that is representing New Jersey after the state government declined to participate, featured an 8-ton sand sculpture that a sculptor from Wildwood<\/a> took 4\u00bd days to create. <\/p>\n Maryland\u2019s state tourism department handed out information about its vacation hot spots. Staff in the Lone Star State\u2019s pavilion greeted tourists with a cheerful \u201cWelcome to Texas\u201d and offered an interactive space flight exhibit, a replica of the Alamo, and an Austin City Limits music display. <\/p>\n Delaware highlighted Founding Father Caesar Rodney\u2019s ride to cast the decisive vote for independence in Philadelphia. <\/p>\n Pennsylvania joined seven other Democratic-led states \u2014 Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington \u2014 in declining to participate. <\/p>\n Some of those states had flags outside the pavilions where they would have been located. A few chairs and a sign with the state\u2019s name were also inside. <\/p>\n But in the booth where, according to an interactive map, Pennsylvania\u2019s location was supposed to be, a flag reading just \u201c250\u2033 was outside and the room was blocked off for the fair\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n