STANWOOD — It’s a night meant to recognize community partnerships and crime prevention — and free family fun.
The annual National Night Out celebration is set for Aug. 5 in many Snohomish County cities.
“Crime prevention is a community project,” Stanwood police Sgt. Ryan Gausman said.
“Everything’s free,” Stanwood Police Chief Rick Hawkins said.
Stanwood’s event will be bigger than ever, the chief said. Police expect the activities and display booths to fill up the old Thrifty Foods parking lot along 90th Avenue NW.
A sheriff’s rescue helicopter is set to make a visit, along with motorcycle deputies, police dogs, and drug and gang prevention experts.
Additional offerings include free car-seat safety checks, face-painting, a baseball pitching trailer and snacks.
“To keep our city safe and reduce crime here, that’s our focus here,” Gausman said. “That’s one thing you see in Stanwood. There is really a community effort here.”
As many as 3,000 people attend National Night Out in Monroe each year, police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said.
In Mukilteo, a big new event this year is a bicycle rodeo.
Kids should bring their bikes and get them registered in case they’re lost or stolen, police officer Colt Davis said. There also will be free bicycle helmet fittings, and clinics for kids learning to ride skateboards and scooters. Women can take self-defense lessons there, too.
There will be clowns, mini-golf and a Velcro climbing wall. The idea is to provide a community atmosphere of support, Davis said.
“It will be fun,” he said.
The Granite Falls event is combined with a health and safety fair theme this year, and features free hot dogs grilled up by Fire Chief Jim Haverfield.
Highlights at the Mountlake Terrace event include hot dogs, cotton candy, bouncy houses, a caricature artist, walking water balls and a police dog demonstration, police Cmdr. Doug Hansen said.
The local American Legion Auxiliary Unit there will raffle off a quilt, and is asking folks to bring donations of children’s underwear and socks.
Many cities, including Everett and Lynnwood, encourage neighborhoods to have individual National Night Out block parties.
The South Everett Neighborhood Center plans one such party from 5 to 8 p.m. at 215 W. Mukilteo Blvd.
The party will have health and safety displays and materials in English, Russian and Spanish.
There will be free books, school supplies and food available there for those in need. People are asked to bring donations of used cellphones and eyeglasses.
Many National Night Out events include free health checks, child identification kits and drug take-back programs. For more information, contact your local police or fire department.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
All events are Aug. 5 unless otherwise noted.
Arlington: 5 to 8 p.m. Block parties. More info: 360-403-4673.
Bothell: Block parties.
Brier: 6 to 8 p.m. at Brier Park, 2903 228th St. SW. Barbecue, music, classic cars and an air slide.
Darrington: 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Old School Park, 1026 Alvord St.
Edmonds: 5 to 8 p.m. July 29 at Francis Anderson playfield, 700 Main St.
Everett: Block parties, including one at Howarth Park from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
More info: contact the police department. For information about the South Everett Neighborhood Center event, contact 425-355-6005 or jclifford@lcsnw.org.
Gold Bar: 7 to 9 p.m. at the Family Grocer, 1111 Croft Ave. Parade starts at 7 p.m. and heads toward celebration at Gold Bar Elementary School.
Granite Falls: 4 to 8 p.m. at Granite Falls IGA, N. Granite Avenue. Free hot dogs and soda.
Lake Stevens: 5 to 8 p.m. on Main Street, downtown.
Lynnwood: Block parties. More info: 425-670-5635
Marysville: Shared with Tulalip.
Mill Creek: Shared with Snohomish County.
Monroe: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lake Tye Park, 14964 Fryelands Blvd. Bouncy houses, free food, and police and firefighter demonstrations.
Mountlake Terrace: 6 to 9 p.m. at Evergreen Playfield, 22205 56th Avenue W.
Mukilteo: 4 to 7 p.m. at the YMCA at 10601 47th Place W, plus block parties.
Tulalip: Information not provided as of press time.
Snohomish: Block parties from 6 to 9 p.m. in the 200 block of Avenue A, the 300 block of Avenue A, and at Mill Avenue and 8th Street.
Stanwood: 6 to 9 p.m. at the former Thrifty Foods parking lot, 27200 90th Ave. NW. Live music, free food, face painting and scheduled visit from the county helicopter rescue team.
Sultan: Shared with Gold Bar.
Snohomish County: 5 to 8 p.m. at Willis Tucker Community Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish. Visit from helicopter rescue team, plus games and activities, live music, and free hot dogs, shaved ice, and corn on the cob.
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