The Sandwich Fair is returning for its 144th year delighting Sandwich and surrounding areas with live music, carnival rides and vendors. The Fair runs from Sep 5 through Sep 9 at 15730 Pratt Road, Sandwich.

What is now known as the “Sandwich Fair” began as a group of farmers trading livestock in 1880. Now, 144 years later, the Fair is an annual knockout, bringing in attendants from across the Northern Illinois region.

Bradley Anderson, the General Manager of the Sandwich fair, manages the social media presence of the event as well as the booking of land and vendors.

“I consider it a regional event more so than a local event,” Anderson said. “We get a lot of people who come from all over. One of the reasons is because it’s a longstanding event. 133 years that it’s run. It’s the longest continuing county fair in the state of Illinois.”

This year, country artist Justin Moore is headlining the Sandwich Fair concert, playing songs off his latest record “Kinda Don’t Care.” Moore is an Arkansas native who won the 2014 ACM Awards’ New Artist of the Year award.

“I wanted to release a record that would fit in perfectly on country radio, but one that also pushed myself creatively. Besides, in the end, if I’m singing, it’s always going to sound country,” Moore told the Sandwich Fair.

“Kinda Don’t Care” is Moore’s fourth studio album. He takes the stage at 8:00pm on Friday, Sept. 4. Tickets to the Moore performance range from $25 to $35, not including entry to the Fair.

A central component to the Sandwich fair is the roots of community trade that led to the event’s inception. To this day, vendors and exhibitors from across the Midwest come together to sell and trade their products, just as they did when the event first began in 1880.

“People come out and get together and show off livestock,” Anderson said. “The local people in the area wanted to promote their products.”

The Fair will features an array of carnival rides and attractions. A day pass wristband ranges from $20-$25, and can be used for one day of attendance.

Tickets and information for the Sandwich Fair can be found at the official Sandwich Fair website, sandwichfair.com.