The Four Town Fair, which has been running for over 180 years, will be returning to 56 Egypt Road in Somers, from Sept. 15 to 18. 

The fair first started sometime around the winter of 1838 or 1839 as a livestock competition, according to the event website. The fair got its name because Somers, East Windsor, Enfield and Ellington each hosted the fair at different points in time before Somers was chosen as its permanent home. Around 20,000 people show up each year, the fair estimates.  

"People gathered to have their contest, and 420 cows and oxen showed up. Nobody had ever seen so many cows and oxen in one place," the website states.

The tradition carries on this year; contestants can enter animals like horses, ponies and oxen in contests that determine who can pull the most weight.

Animals won't be the only ones pulling weight:, the fair has "doodlebug tractor pulls," where participants ride on their doodlebug tractors where they pull weight across a field. Four Town Fair Secretary Janice Steinmetz said this type of contest began at the fair in the 1950s and has since been adopted by the Orange Country Fair and Lebanon Country Fair.

Other livestock like cows, pigs and rabbits will also be judged for showmanship. Due to the outbreak of Avian Influenza (bird flu,) the event will not have a poultry show this year, according to Steinmetz.

The fair will also host a "King of the Pumpkin Patch" contest, in which contestants can enter giant pumpkins they grow to see who has the heaviest. 

Food lovers can chow down during corn and pie eating contests on Sunday. There are also several food-related state contests that are shared between the Four Town Fair and other participating fairs like the Guilford Fair or Berlin Lions Agricultural Fair, according to ctagfairs.org. During the 2022 State Baking Contest, guests are judged on who has the best Abraham Lincoln cake, carrot cake muffins or two-crushed apple pie.

The 2022 State Photo Contest, where contestants are asked to enter photos based on the theme of “Connecticut Fairs,” will be open for entries. Participants can also enter quilts to be displayed during the 2022 State Quilt Contest, which takes place in early November. 

Guests can see antique and classic cars during a car show on Thursday, and watch firetrucks in action during a parade on Saturday.

"People love going down to look [at the classic cars]. I love looking at them too. Last year we had close to 70 entries," Steinmetz said. 

Each day of the fair will feature a new musician performing on the fair's main stage, including East Coast Cowboys on Thursday, the Arizona Maid Band on Friday, Aquanett on Saturday and Bart and the Hired Guns on Sunday. "There is a lot going on, it's a good old-fashioned family fair," Steinmetz said. 

Tickets to enter the event are $6 on Thursday and $10 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and $25 for the entire duration. Children 12 years old and under are free. Steinmetz said that the fair decided not to raise the prices this year because they want families to be able to afford to come, despite rising costs due to inflation.

A "megapass" is also available, giving guests unlimited rides on mechanical attractions like carousels and ferris wheels on a day of their choice. They cost $40 per person until Sept. 15 and will cost $45 afterward, according to Fiesta Shows.