By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

National Night Out, a national initiative to promote crime prevention and community camaraderie, will be Tuesday, Aug. 5 this year.

The National Association of Town Watch introduced National Night Out as America’s Night Out Against Crime in 1984, according to the organization, and several local police and fire departments will be hosting the event this year.

Amelia Night Out will be from 6-8 p.m. at Spencer Shank Park in the village.

The event will include an opportunity to meet and get to know police and fire personnel, a concert from Big Easy and the Gators, refreshments, a Home Depot workshop for children, and more.

Amelia Mayor Todd Hart said the Air Care helicopter will also make an appearance at the event.

“It’s going to be a fun time,” Hart said.

The Milford Miami Township National Night Out will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Target on Rivers Edge Drive in Milford.

The event will include demonstrations from the fire and police departments, games, refreshments, educational information, a concert by Most Wanted, a band made up of police officers, and other activities.

“It’s a huge community collaborative event,” Milford Police Chief Jamey Mills said.

Mills said they will have more than 35 non-profit organizations, community safety parters, local businesses, and other organizations participating in the event.

He said it is a fun event for police and fire personnel to be able to interact with the community.

“For me it’s one of the few opportunities we have to collaborate with the community on an informal basis,” Mills said. “It’s good for both sides to get to know each other before we need each other.”

Union Township National Night Out will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in the township.

The event will include educational demonstrations, a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog, games, a dunking booth, refreshments, and more.

Parking for the Union Township event will be available at the Civic Center with shuttles running to and from the park as well as parking off of Clough Pike just east of Wetherby Farms.

For more information about National Night Out and locations across Ohio, visit www.natw.org.