Harlow Town Show was held between the 1960s and 1980s, before a brief revival in the 2000s, and once attracted tens of thousands of guests.
Swords said he was committed to bringing it back to the annual calendar “bigger and better than ever”.
More acts and activities are due to be announced for the event.
They will perform on the the town’s bandstand, which is being rebuilt after an arson attack in September.
However, the first act to perform on the bandstand will be the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra on 4 July.