Music, face painting, noshing and maybe even bonding with law enforcement are some of the things participants could be in for on National Night Out this Tuesday in cities throughout the Bay Area, the state and the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 as an annual community-building campaign promoting police-community partnerships and encouraging neighborhood camaraderie. Dozens of Bay Area neighborhoods, if not hundreds, are holding events on Tuesday — the first Tuesday of August.
Residents can check their city websites, local police departments and sheriff’s offices to see if their specific neighborhoods are having events.
A brief rundown of just three Bay Area National Night Out events:
The City of San Mateo posted on its website, “If you are not going to a registered (National Night Out) block party, please join us at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center from 5:30 – 8:00 pm for music, McGruff the Crime Dog, resources, raffles, goodies, and more.” The center is at 725 Monte Diablo Ave.
In Martinez, live music from an Eagles tribute band, food trucks, shaved ice, safety demonstrations and kids’ entertainment including a petting zoo are planned at the Martinez Waterfront Park, 245 North Court St., from 6 to 9 p.m.
Folks who show up at the Kaiser Permanente Arena at 140 Front St. in Santa Cruz can play jumbo yard games, dunk officials in a dunk tank, jump in a bounce house, enjoy DJ’d music and consume free popcorn, among other things, between 5 and 7:30 p.m.