Celebrate National Night Out the First Tuesday in August
At its best, the relationship between police departments and the community is one of mutual respect and partnership. Unfortunately, that relationship breaks down all too often—and often spectacularly.
For more than 30 years, the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) has worked to change that. Its National Night Out is an “annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.”
The celebration happens every year on the first Tuesday in August. There’s also a National Night Out on the 1st Tuesday in October for communities that want to avoid the extreme heat of August (Florida and Texas often use the October date).
About NATW
Matt A. Peskin founded the organization in March 1981. Its goal, then and now, is to promote crime prevention in communities across the country.
Members of its network include law enforcement agencies and neighborhood watch groups as well as civic groups, crime prevention associations and ordinary citizens concerned about crime in their neighborhoods.
It held the first National Night Out on August 7, 1984. Four hundred communities in 23 states took part. The movement spread quickly and today communities in all 50 states promote the effort. Canadian cities, U.S. Territories and military bases across the world also organize events to observe the day (ok, night).
NATW recognized that though one night can make a difference, more was needed. So in 1993 it launched project365 to keep the cooperation going every day of the year.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial peaceful and neighborly holiday.
Celebrating National Night Out
NATW encourages everyone to lock their doors, turn on the front porch lights and spend the evening outside getting to know their neighbors.
Many communities hold festivals to mark the day.
Of course, individual neighborhoods can organize block parties and cookouts.
If your town or neighborhood is participating in National Night Out, join the festivities. If not, why not organize something? Talk to your neighbors about a block party. Or talk to local officials about getting the whole community involved.
Some activities you can consider include:
- Parade
- Scavenger hunt
- Coloring contest for the kids
- Garden walk/tour of gardens on the block
- Talent show with prizes (divide into age groups)
- Organize a community project, like beautifying a park, cleaning/covering graffiti, or planning a fall clean-up
You may even want to set up a registration table where people can sign up for a block/neighborhood email list, register to vote, get library cards, etc.
Register your event with NATW to get an official Organizational Kit, including an event planning calendar, answers to frequently asked questions and more. You don’t have to be a NATW member to register.
