SOMERS — The Four Town Fair, the oldest continuous agricultural fair in Connecticut, will be returning to 56 Egypt Rd. in Somers on Sept. 12 from 4-10 p.m., Sept. 13 from 4-11 p.m., Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The four-day fair will include animals, food and exhibits, along with entertainment, midway rides and games, children’s activities, a horse show and Gymhkana.
Craft vendor Pearl Fequiere, who will be attending this year’s event in the craft building, said, “This fair has a lot to offer for the entire family. And because it runs for four days, you’ll have plenty of time to see everything.”
The fair began around the winter of 1838 as a livestock competition. Folks gathered to have their contest, and 420 cows and oxen showed up.
The four towns are Somers, East Windsor, Enfield and Ellington. Each town hosted the fair at different points in time before Somers was chosen as its permanent home.
There is a president for each town and Jack Rich is the president for Ellington. “The fair is a staple in the town of Somers,” he said. “We get people from all over that grew up in the area and moved away but come back every year because it was a part of their childhood.”
He continued, “We really try to have something for everybody. Something to eat for everybody, something to see between the entertainment and the bands that we have booked, the exhibits, the arts and crafts, and the food. There’s literally something for everybody.”
Marie Letellier, who has been on the Board of Directors — representing the four towns — for 34 years, said, “My favorite thing about the fair is the people — seeing the smiles on children’s faces and the adults watching their children. The kids are learning so much about agriculture and animals. Some of them have never seen live animals and it’s just amazing to watch their little faces.”
She continued, “The most important thing is community involvement. Each year the Four Town Fair tries to get the community more involved and their mindset of promoting the four local towns’ agriculture.”
For more information on the fair, visit 4townfair.com.
