On the first Tuesday of August, which this year will be Aug. 6, the Oakdale Police Department is encouraging residents to join in for National Night Out festivities throughout the community.

National Night Out is a nationwide event where block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and other community events occur, including safety demonstrations, youth events, and emergency personnel visits to educate the public.

Oakdale Police Department noted in promoting the event, “National Night Out was first introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and has since grown to include millions.”

National Night Out events are held throughout all 50 states and military bases worldwide.

“The primary goal of National Night Out is to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch neighborhood watch, and other anticrime efforts,” the statement from OPD indicated.

The events and celebrations during National Night Out promote community safety and allow neighbors to create a sense of comradeship among each other.

The locations where different block parties and events are planned in Oakdale, as provided by the Oakdale Police Department, include: Belmare Senior Living; Olive and School; the Youth Center (on Gilbert) across from Oakdale High School; South First Avenue and East J Street; California and Laurel; Oak Leaf Meadows; Burchell Park; East G Street and South Maag Avenue; Carmel Ranch; and Tesoro.

At these locations, the event and festivities often differ from one site to the next, through there is usually food to share. Other activities offered depend on the ‘block captain’ helping to put the neighborhood gathering together.

Oakdale is an established award-winning National Night Out community, receiving first place honors for their population division the past four years.

It is a “wonderful opportunity for residents to come together, celebrate their community spirit, and foster relationships that contribute to the well-being of our neighborhoods,” the Oakdale Police Department expressed.

Festivities typically begin about 6 p.m.; the Oakdale Police Department will have its kickoff for the night at Burchell Park on Burchell Hill Drive and invite anyone without a neighborhood gathering nearby to attend the centralized Burchell Hill location. There, the event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include a display of First responder vehicles, food and drinks, games and activities, raffles and more.