The public is invited to National Night Out, a series of gatherings held in communities throughout Santa Cruz County on Aug. 5 from 3-7pm.
National Night Out Against Crime is a chance for people to meet the police officers, firefighters and first-responders who help them throughout the year. It is also a chance for neighbors to meet each other.
Community resources, face-painting, activities, food, music and prizes will be available.
Since its creation more than four decades ago, National Night Out Against Crime has become a venue for people to meet their local police officers and city officials, and to learn how to organize against crime.
The night has also become a way for communities to show criminals that they are organized.
The first National Night Out took place in 1984. That first year, 2.5 million Americans took part across 400 communities in 23 states.
And the event has grown tremendously.
More than 37 million people from more than 16,000 communities throughout the U.S. and Canada celebrate, in addition to military bases worldwide.
Watsonville residents took up the tradition more than 25 years ago, and the city now boasts events at dozens of locations throughout the city.
Social services organizations set up tables at several of the locations, a way to tout their services and meet the people who would use them.
For information, visit watsonville.gov/2351/National-Night-Out
