Across the Lower Shore and across the country, community members are set to gather Tuesday with their neighbors and police officers.
National Night Out: America’s Night Out Against Crime will be celebrated at parks and other locations locally. Millions of people take part in the annual event, which was started by the National Association of Town Watch in 1984, according to its website.
National Night Out events have an upbeat atmosphere, generally including free food and fun activities. And people can also learn about crime prevention and from local organizations.
Berlin Police Department Senior Officer Claude Holland said it’s a chance to talk to community members in an informal setting.
There will be police wearing street clothes rather than uniforms, he said.
“Shorts and T-shirts if it’s hot,” Holland said.
Holland said for Berlin’s event, at Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street, there will be food and drinks for free to the public, and activities for children will include bouncy houses, face painting, sunglasses decorating and woodworking projects.
For Salisbury, National Night Out falls in between two events that are being held as part of Salisbury Safe Streets Week. At 6 p.m. Monday, a Safe Streets Prayer Service will be held at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, and at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, people are invited to take part in a Playground Beautification Day at the Newton Tot Lot, at the corner of Newton and Light Streets.
Salisbury was recognized for its National Night Out efforts in 2013, according to the National Night Out website. In the 15,000 to 49,999 population category, Salisbury was one of 47 award winners, listed 46th.
Even though it rained the whole day leading up to last year’s National Night Out event, said Christine Chestnutt, Safe Streets coordinator for the Salisbury Police Department, about 600 people still came out.
This year, she expects about 800 people to attend.
Last year, members of the Salisbury Police Department and Salisbury Fire Department faced off against each other in tug-of-war and kickball, and the fire department was the winner in each contest, Chestnutt said.
This year, the police can try to redeem themselves against the firefighters in Wiffle ball and cornhole tournaments.
There will also be potato sack races for children, a pet parade, free food, live music and various organizations on hand.
Attendees to the Salisbury event each get a raffle ticket for the chance to win prizes, and Chestnutt said people who bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Maryland Food Bank will get an extra raffle ticket.
The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police will also be part of the evening, Chestnutt said.
“It’s just a nice, family-friendly event,” Chestnutt said.
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NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS ON THE LOWER SHORE
All events Tuesday, Aug. 5
Berlin
4-7 p.m. at Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street
Crisfield
6-8 p.m. at the Somers Cove Marina
Fruitland
5-8 p.m. at the pavilion on South Brown Street
Salisbury
5-8 p.m. in the Salisbury City Park by the Bandstand
Ocean City
6-8 p.m. at Fiesta Park in Caine Woods and Gullway Villas on Lark Lane
Princess Anne
6-8 p.m. at Garland Hayward Youth Center
Pocomoke City
5-8 p.m. at Cypress Park
LEARN MORE
Learn more about National Night Out at www.natw.org.