It’s been 40 years since the first National Night Out events took place, bringing police and residents together for a neighborly night of community-building fun.
Held every year on the first Tuesday in August by police departments across the county, the campaign’s goal is to heighten crime awareness, promote community spirit, and strengthen neighbor and police relationships by providing opportunities for residents to come together and interact with each other and the police on a personal level.
“Our National Night Out here in Elgin keeps getting bigger and bigger every year,” police Sgt. Hector Gutierrez says.
Here’s a rundown of what’s planned in our area:
ELGIN
“We’ll have 23 block parties hosted throughout town by community partners along with six officer-hosted parties open to the public, with lots of fun festivities in store,” Elgin police community relations specialist Christy Schmidt said.
Neighborhood gatherings will begin at 5 or 6 p.m. and run through 8 p.m. Each will be visited by a team made up of a police officer, a local dignitary and a costumed mascot. Members of the Elgin Fire Department also will be making appearances.
One of the big events will be a Taste of Elgin being held downtown. Hosted by officers Ultan Gallagher and Miguel Barron and set up along Grove Avenue between Chicago Street and Fulton Avenue and on DuPage Court in downtown Elgin, it will feature free food samples served by more than 10 Elgin restaurants as well as booths set up by about 20 community partners, according to police community relations specialist Danny Flores.
The party in the 300 block of North Spring Street, hosted by Officer Edwin Alva, will feature banda music from Tamborazo Chanillos.
Officer Romond Payne is hosting the party on the grounds of the now-closed Elgin Academy, 350 Park St., where there will be a mini football training camp for school-aged children with representatives (no players) from the Chicago Bears organization.
Area automobile enthusiasts are invited to attend the car cruise that will be part of Officer Robert Henke’s party in the 700 block of West Highland Avenue.
Also hosting parties are Officer Roberto Ayala at Cornerstone Park, 1540 Mulberry Lane, and Officer Juan Juarez in the 1300 block of Amanda Circle.
The party hosted by Hanover Township at the Izaak Walton Youth Center & Reserve, 899 Jay St., Elgin, will feature free snacks, a bouncy house, games, face painting and a performance by students from the School of Rock in Schaumburg.
SOUTH ELGIN
South Elgin’s National Night Out will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. in Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St.
Residents are asked to park at South Elgin High School, 760 E. Main St., and take shuttles to the park running every 20 minutes between 5 and 9:30 p.m. because there’s not a lot of parking near the park right now.
“Our brand new police department is under construction across the street so there is limited parking around the event,” Sgt. William Werneske said.
Planned as part of the event are face painting, a kid tattoo station, a bounce house and an emergency vehicle touch-a-truck area. There will be free police-themed handouts for kids, and food for sale from Cesaroni BBQ, Inches Tacos, Waffadilla, Dairy Queen and Mama Lee’s Popcorn. Country rock band Smokin Gunz is scheduled to perform.
“I would also recommend families pack lawn chairs and blankets for the event to enjoy the concert and night out with the community,” Werneske said.
MULTIPLE-DEPARTMENT EVENT
Police and fire departments from Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee and Sleepy Hollow and Dundee Township Park District will hold a joint event from 5 to 8 p.m. in Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave., Carpentersville.
“Our National Night Out will generally be the same as last year,” Carpentersville Police Chief Todd Shaver said.
A McHenry LifeNet helicopter is scheduled to arrive at 5 p.m. and will be onsite until 6 p.m. That will be followed by a drone demonstration at 6 p.m. and a Carpentersville Police Department K-9 Unit demonstration at 7 p.m.
There also will be inflatables, a climbing tree, a touch-a-truck area, food vendors and booths from local businesses and nonprofits.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.