Mt Olive Pickle Company withdrew from the Great American State Fair in Washington DC after a video containing a Confederate flag was shown as part of North Carolina’s exhibit. The company said it was unaware that the flag would be included and emphasized its commitment to human dignity, opportunity and freedom. Spevco, another participant, said it did not create or approve the 45‑minute YouTube video and confirmed that the flag appeared only briefly before the footage was removed. The Confederate battle flag has long been associated with white supremacist groups. The fair experienced low attendance and high temperatures, which sent at least seven people to hospitals and led several states to forgo participation due to budget or scheduling concerns. North Carolina officials said budgetary constraints prevented its own delegation, but private funding allowed the state’s representation at the fair. Freedom 250, the event’s organizer, moved the fair’s start time to noon on Saturday because of the heat, and parades in Annapolis, Philadelphia and Washington DC were canceled. The episode reflects ongoing debates over Confederate symbols during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.