There is a lot more to Niles’ annual Fourth of July celebration than just fireworks.

The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the show, is offering several hours worth of fun leading up to the main event.

“We are excited because we’ve really tried to expand the offerings past fireworks to try to make it more fun for families to come out,” said chamber CEO/President Tyanna Weller. “It will be a great family day.”

The Family Fun Fest and Fireworks Celebration is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 2 at the Four Flags Area Apple Festival Fairgrounds, which is located at the corner of Lake and 17th streets.

The fireworks will shoot off at dusk, or around 10 p.m.

While entry is technically free, several volunteers will be on hand to collect free-will donations that will be used to pay for future events hosted by the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce.

Weller said it costs approximately $10,000 to run the event.

“Donations help us continue to do this and to make it bigger and better each year,” she said.

Festivities at the fairgrounds include:

• Games

• Face painting

• Bounce houses

• Honor Credit Union Dunk tank

• Children’s activities

• Art and coloring contests by WNIL and Niles Daily Star

• Food vendors, including elephant ears

In addition, there will be three special performances on the fairgrounds stage: The worship band from Community Evangelical Church, Bad Entertainment Dance Team and the band Top Secret of South Bend, Indiana.

“Top Secret plays all different types of music, from The Beatles to Elton John — all kinds of ‘70s and ‘80s music,” Weller said. “They are a cover band.”

Fireworks will be displayed in the field behind the fairgrounds area. Organizers say the show can be best seen from the areas around Ring Lardner Middle School, the Apple Festival Fairgrounds and Niles High School.

Weller said the event attracts 4,000 to 6,000 people a year.

She hopes to see even more this year.

“We are the only one in the county that is doing it on the second, so we hope for a big turnout,” she said. “Then people can go to other places for other fireworks throughout the weekend.”