On Tuesday evening, Aug. 7, the City of Mercer Island will be hosting the city’s fifth annual “National Night Out.”

National Night Out is an event designed to bring neighbors together to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support for family emergency preparedness and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships. The hope is to bring families and neighbors together to meet one another, reintroduce each other and to become familiar with the faces of neighbors and city officials.

From 6 until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7, residents in neighborhoods throughout Mercer Island and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors, police and fire, city officials and city staff.

Many neighborhoods throughout Mercer Island will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, visits from police, fire and city officials, flashlight walks, contests and youth activities.

This year will mark the 29th year of National Night Out across the United States. National Night Out, a crime prevention and emergency preparedness event, will include over 15,000 communities from all 50 states. There are approximately 70 cities and counties in Washington state that participate in the event. Last year Mercer Island had 28 neighborhoods join in.

To register your neighborhood for National Night Out, contact Officer Franklin at (206) 275-7905 or email jennifer.franklin@mercergov.org and ask to be placed on the registration list.

For additional information and helpful links, go to www.mercergov.org/emergencyprep.