Amusement rides provided by ABC Party Rentals open Wednesday, July 3 at 5 p.m. and finish after the fireworks on July 4. Tickets will be available for purchase the day before and day of the festival from the ride vendors on site. Some of the rides planned for this year include:

Looking for something competitive on July 4? There are several options available at this year’s Fabulous Fourth.

The 5k Firecracker Race begins at 8 a.m. on July 4. Visit firecracker5k.org/ for details and registration information.

A basketball tournament will be held at Stearns Gym for ages 5-15, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. The tournament runs from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with different age groups participating all day. For pre-registration and more information on age groups and times, call Polk County Recreation at 828-894-8199. There is a small fee per player, with all proceeds going to the Polk County High School men’s and women’s cross country teams.

The second annual Fabulous Fourth Chess Tournament will begin at Stearns Gym at 1:30 p.m. with registration starting at 1 p.m. at Stearns Gym. There is a small registration fee, but the fee is waived for Polk Central Elementary School students who participated in the instructional class.  Bring your certificates of completion to receive complimentary entry in the tournament. There will be four experience level divisions, and cash prizes will be awarded for the first, second and third places finishes. Prizes and the tournament are sponsored by the Tryon Kiwanis Club. All proceeds from the tournament will go back to the Chess Club. For more information, please contact Brian Crissy at 828-894-8444.

New for this year’s festival, Pea Ridge Baptist Church is sponsoring a Cornhole Tournament.  Registration begins at noon with an open practice, and the tournament starts at 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place, with all games scored to 21. Open play will be available after the tournament until 6 p.m. for a small fee per game. All proceeds go to the Pea Ridge Baptist Church youth fund. For more information or to register, contact Lori Lookadoo at 828-894-9434 or Jason Kilgore at 828-817-3992.