Austin is ready to zip into its annual Fourth of July celebrations.

Austin is primed for another long weekend of races, fun in the park, a parade, fireworks and more when Freedom Fest returns Friday through the Fourth of July in Austin.

Austin’s Bandshell Park will be at the center of many activities on Sunday and Monday and organizers are bringing a new attraction to the park — an 80-foot zip line, which will be at the park on Sunday, which is Family Day.

“Just the size of the thing is going to help draw attention to that area,” Festival Director Jeff Baldus said.

The zip line will be put up by a company near the bottom of Skinner’s Hill.

The full slate of free inflatables will again return to the park on Sunday and Monday, and Baldus is adding a few games, like a lawn tic-tac-toe and a hightower game — similar to Giant Jenga — for families to play.

“It’s kind of a cool thing and its fun,” Baldus said.

Another new addition is a basketball challenge game for two people to play at a time.

Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Forstner noted events will gets started well after church at 2 p.m. Sunday, which could boost numbers since most people won’t have work.

Both days of festivities in the park will close with fireworks displays, which is a highlight for several organizers.

“We do feel we’ve got the finest fireworks display in southeastern Minnesota,” Forstner said.

Park activities also include entertainment, the National Guard climbing wall, a game activity tent, and food concessions, along with strolling jugglers, musicians, artisans and clowns, and more. The veterans will again run bingo at the pavilion both days in the park.

The annual water wars will return to the park on July 4, and a bean bag tourney starts at 2 p.m. with registration at 1 p.m.

The July 4 parade route will stick to the same route, starting at Austin Utilities, 400 Fourth St. NE, and moving down Fourth Avenue Northeast before turning south onto Main Street North and running to Bandshell Community Park.

“The parade is very well attended,” Forstner said.

Baldus agreed one of his favorite moments each year during and right after the fireworks, as he enjoys hearing the crowd at the end after all the hard work volunteers put into the festival.

“I guess that’s probably one of my favorite thing is the experience,” he said.

A field of flags featuring dozens of American flags along the park trail will also return.

Saturday will be race day for Freedom Fest.

The Hog Jog will start with race-day registration from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. before the 8 a.m. race. Cost is $30 on race day. Register online at www.ymca-austin.org.

The Ulwelling Bike Race will start with race-day registration at 11 a.m. before the race begins at noon.

Registration can be completed at www.austincoc.com and is $15.