This year's National Night Out will bring back some old favorites from last year along with new additions.

The Elizabeth City Police Department's fourth National Night Out celebration, which is Tuesday evening, will include a doughnut eating contest, a U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue demonstration and a unity walk, according to Officer Grace Carter. This year, a couple of community watch groups are hosting block parties, and the department is adding a tug-of-war at the main event at Waterfront Park.

Block parties in the Pennsylvania Avenue and Sawyertown community watch areas will start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, as will a car and motorcycle show at Waterfront Park. At 5:30 p.m., local singer Linda Farley will perform, followed by opening ceremonies and a speech by District Attorney Frank Parrish at 6:30 p.m.

At 5:45 p.m., the Coast Guard will conduct a search and rescue demonstration on the Pasquotank River, and at 7:30 p.m., local band Further Adieu will perform until 10 p.m. This year's unity walk will go proceed along Shepard and Cale streets area starting at 9 p.m.

Those interested in participating in the doughnut eating contest should contact Carter or sign up Tuesday. The contest is intended mainly for adults, she said. The tug-of-war contest will feature two local high school teams and the police department versus the fire department.

In the park there will be more than 150 booths of food vendors and children's activities, including face painting, a rock wall, a super slide and a moon walk.

Carter said she hopes to see more than 6,000 residents at the yearly going away party for crime. The event is a positive way to inform residents of what the department does by watching K-9 and Project Lifesaver demonstrations, she said.

"It's a national event across the United States that will bring together law enforcement and the community to work together to make the quality of life better in the community," she said.

Carter said National Night Out also brings police officers in contact with children to help them understand that officers are approachable.

"A lot of people are interested in what the police department does and its functions," Carter said.

The ECPD wants to remind motorists that portions of Riverside Avenue near Hunter Street will be closed Tuesday for the event.

For more information, contact the Elizabeth City Police Department at 335-4321.