CHESTER – For more than two decades, Chester has been the place to be on the Fourth of July.

Officials are gearing up for the 21st year of Independence Day activities to be held Tuesday in the city’s downtown. Back are the popular favorites like the riverside fireworks and duck race, but new this year is an expanded funzone area throughout the Chester City Park.

The annual event is funded by the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, the American Legion Post 121 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6450. Event coordinator Amy Cashdollar said wristbands for the funzone can be purchased for $5 each for each admission (adult or children) at a central booth at the event. Chester Fire Chief John Hissam explained the goal is not to profit from the event through the wristbands but to help recoup some of the costs associated especially with the funzone, which will include a variety of inflatables for all ages, ranging from bounce houses and inflatable games to a 70-foot obstacle course, between the hours of noon and 4 pm.

The day’s activities begin at 9 a.m. with the Freedom 5K run. Preregistration is available until the day of the event either online or through two locations in town, Hancock County Savings Bank or Summit Physical Therapy. According to Cashdollar, entrants can either preregister at www.runsignup.com until the day before the event or at the starting line outside of EJ’s Restaurant the morning of the event.

One of the event’s high points has returned again. As Hissam explained, although the premise is quite simple. Attendees love the duck race, which is held along the city’s gutters between Third and Fourth Street along Carolina Avenue.

To adopt a racing duck, one can purchase a duck either before race day at various locations throughout the city or before noon on event day outside First Choice America for $5.

Officials open a fire hydrant and racing heats are done based on participant age as the rubber ducklings ride the rushing water toward the finishing lines. The first one who is caught in the basket at the end wins.

Hissam added, “It is amazing how many people show up to watch the duck race.”

The duck race proceeds, like the funzone, benefit the Fourth of July Committee’s efforts.

The Chester Lions Club will hold its annual Fourth of July car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chester City Park. All makes, models and years of cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome. Preregistration and day-of-event registration is available for $10 per entry. For those interested in avoiding registration lines, pre-register with Steve Wilson at sfwilson@gmail.com and pay at the event. There is no admission charge for spectators. There will be 40 awards, including Best of Manufacturer, Best Motorcycle and Best of Show.

Door prizes will be given every 15 minutes to registrants.

There also will be a disc jockey, a 50/50 and multiple giveaways. You don’t need to enter a vehicle to participate in the giveaways or be present to win.

The rain date for the car show is from 5 to 8 p.m. July 15.

The annual Fourth of July parade will begin at 4 p.m. To register as a participant, contact Pam Elliott at 304-281-5739. She can provide all the necessary details of where to line up at 3 p.m. the day of the event.

Live music will fill the air at Chester City Park, starting at 5:30 p.m. with Full Circle and wrapping up at 8 p.m. with Bon Journey before the fireworks start at 10 p.m.

Food and beverages will be available to purchase as well as handcrafted items during the event.

Both Hissam and Cashdollar credited the Fourth of July Committee and business community for making this such a special event. “This committee is completely run by volunteers, and Fourth of July is a community effort.”