On the first Tuesday of every August, police officers across the nation take part in family-friendly activities to foster stronger police-community relations during “America’s Night Out Against Crime.” Police Departments plan carnivals, meet-and-greets, K-9 demonstrations and ice cream giveaways. Here are some activities planned across New Jersey to celebrate National Night Out this year on Tuesday, August 6.
Be sure to check with your local department before heading out due to weather concerns.
Atlantic County
Absecon
Pitney Park East
6 – 9 pm
There will be dozens of local vendors, an obstacle course, cars on display, public safety demos and a helicopter flyover.
Bergen County
Harrington Park
Highland Field
6 – 9 pm
The park will be filled with emergency service vehicles on display, K9 demos, a DJ, a train ride, bounce houses, face painting and free giveaways. The Harrington Park Food Truck Festival will take place at the same time.
Lodi
Lodi Memorial Park
6 – 9 pm
Make sure you pick up free giveaways from different organizations, plus meet your local first responders.
New Milford
Kennedy Field
7 – 10 pm
Among the highlights will be amusement rides, music, food vendors, law enforcement and emergency services displays, face painting, and more.
Paramus
Paramus Bandshell
5 – 7 pm
The event includes police and emergency service vehicles, info tables from local groups, live music, children’s activities, free hot dogs, and a helicopter landing.
Burlington County
Bordentown Twp.
Joseph Lawrence Park, 316 Ward Ave.
6 – 9 pm
Bordentown Township is partnering with the Bordentown City Police Department for a joint party. This family-friendly event will include community building with activities such as police officer meet-and-greets, tours of emergency vehicles, a Cops vs. Kids kickball game, Cornhole with Cops, Xbox with a Cop, refreshments, a DJ, games, inflatables, K-9 demonstrations, face painting, music, and safety information booths. Note: The event has been postponed to August 14.
Camden County
Haddon Heights
McLaughlin-Norcross Memorial Dell (Haddon Lake Park), 1214 S. Park Ave.
6 – 8 pm
The night will include music, games, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, water ice, touch-a-truck, a pie eating contest and giveaways.
Lindenwold
Lindenwold Memorial Park, 1000 United States Ave.
6 – 9 pm
Details will be announced soon about this year’s celebration.
Cape May County
Cape May
714 Beach Ave., outside Convention Hall
5:30 – 8:30 pm
The beach and boardwalk will be filled with beach games, bounce houses, a dunk tank, a magic show, prizes and giveaways. Meet members of the Cape May Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard. There will be hot dogs, pizza and candy.
Middle Twp.
Details will be announced about the police-led celebration.
Cumberland County
Millville
Lakeside Middle School
6-9 pm
Come out for exhibitors, food and drinks, music, games, a K9 demo, a dunk tank, face painting, snow cones, and fireworks.
Essex County
Millburn Twp.
Taylor Park
6 – 9 pm
Kids will get a kick out of seeing different police, fire and EMS vehicles. There will also be food vendors from local establishments, a game truck, bounce houses, an obstacle course, a deejay and other entertainment.
Mercer County
East Windsor
East Windsor PAL Complex, 30 Airport Road
5:30 – 8:30 pm
This fun but educational event features crime watch info, displays of emergency services equipment, K9 drug detection demos, booths and displays by area groups and businesses, DJ provided music and snacks. Youth games and activities will feature jumping/climbing inflatables, climbing obstacle course, face painting and air brush tattoos. Note: The event has been canceled. A rain date has not been announced.
Hamilton Twp.
Veterans Park South Side, Kuser Road
5-8 pm
Meet your local police officers and ask them how they serve the community.
Hopewell Valley
Stony Brook Elementary School, Hopewell Twp.
6-8 pm
Come by for video games, a dunk tank, corn hole, face painting, a bounce house, and free food and music. Note: The event is postponed to August 13.
Robbinsville
Robbinsville Township Police Department Complex, 1117 Rte. 130
6-9 pm
Police Appreciation Week in Robbinsville is August 5-12, and National Night Out will be celebrated on August 6 with a community festival. Note: This event has been rescheduled to August 13 due to weather concerns.
Trenton
Cadwalader Park
5-9 pm
Police and neighbors will come together for a host of activities throughout the evening.
Middlesex County
Cranbury
Village Park
5 – 8 pm
There will be free food, games, touch-a-truck, music, health and wellness, and more.
New Brunswick
Note: The event has been moved to Stress Factory Comedy Club, 90 Church St.
Live music by Gerry Rosenthal and Tommy Strazza, and free food samples from local restaurants.
North Brunswick
Note: The event has been moved to Linwood Middle School, 15 Linwood Pl.
5 – 8 pm
The parking lot outside of the police department will be set up with hot dogs and hamburgers, music, kids’ activities and info booths.
South Brunswick
Rowland Park, 235 Broadway Road
6 – 9 pm
One of the biggest events in the area – which has continually won awards year after year – South Brunswick’s event usually hosts up to 7,000 area residents who come out for lots of free food, games, prizes and displays. First responders offer demonstrations, participate in activities and show off their vehicles. There is music and children’s games.
South River
Saint Mark Christian Academy parking lot, Morningside Avenue near Montgomery Street
5 – 8 pm
The event features food vendors, touch-a-truck, activities, games, music, giveaways, info from community groups, demos, a gaming truck and a bounce house.
WoodbridgeÂ
Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St.
6 – 9 pm
The night will include food, a dunk tank, miniature golf, games and music. Community members can take photos with members of police, fire, emergency medical services (EMS) and their specialty vehicles.
Monmouth County
Freehold Boro
Hall of Records Parking Lot, E. Main Street
6-9 pm
Meet members of the Freehold police, fire and EMS squads, plus the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. There will be inflatables, a rock climbing wall, face painting, a bicycle raffle, costumed characters, hot dogs and ice cream.
Holmdel
Holmdel Town Hall / Police Headquarters, 4 Crawfords Corner Rd.
6-8:30 pm
There will be music by DJ Mel from Incredible Soundz Entertainment, food, Italian ice, a demo by K9 Murph, police vehicle and station tours, a fitness challenge, a drone demo, first aid and fire trucks, a dunk tank, games and giveaways.
Neptune Twp.
Midtown Community Elementary School
5 – 8 pm
Free admission includes the bike raffle, dunk tank, slides, games, a flyover by a New Jersey State Police helicopter, ice cream, food and snacks.
Red Bank
Count Basie Park, 11 Henry St.
6-9 pm
Make sure to stop by the Red Bank Library’s table, where there will be face painting, temporary tattoos, giveaways and book recommendations.
Morris County
Denville
Riverview Elementary School Parking Lot, 33 St. Mary’s Place
Meet the officers and see the equipment inside the patrol vehicles. “Dunk-A-Cop” at the dunk tank. The Denville Volunteer Fire Department, Denville Animal Control, Northern NJ Safe Kids, Office of Emergency Management and others will also be on site with info. At dusk, watch “A Dog’s Way Home” on the large movie screen.
Mt. Olive
6-10 pm
Everything tonight is free: food, handouts, balloons, bounce houses, pony rides, the reptile zoo, music, hayrides, games, the dunk tank, face painting, balloon rides and fireworks.
Ocean County
Jackson Twp.
Johnson Park, Kierych Memorial Drive
6-9 pm
Bring the kids for rides, games, a DJ, food, first responder equipment, vehicle displays, SWAT Team presentations and business vendors.
Manchester
Manchester Township High School
The Lakehurst and Manchester Twp. police departments will work together for this dual-town event, featuring first responder and vehicle displays, food trucks, live music, vendors, K9 demos, SWAT Team demos, physical fitness competition, traffic safety and a DWI simulation course.
Plumstead
New Egypt High School, 117 Evergreen Rd.
5-9 pm
The coolest part may be the first responder pie eating contest. There will also be live music, bounce houses, carnival games, backyard games, sports, archery, touch-a-truck, race cars, a petting zoo, pony rides, and several food trucks.
South Toms River
South Toms River Elementary School, 419 Dover Rd.
4-8 pm
There will be inflatables, a dunk tank and demos. Free food includes hot dogs, popcorn and ice pops.
Stafford Twp.
Manahawkin Lake
5 – 8 pm
Entertainment includes a BMX bike show, K9 demos, vehicle tours, inflatables, a cardboard boat regatta, food trucks and giveaways.
Passaic County
Wanaque
Memorial Field
6-9 pm
DJ Joe provides the background music for a night of fun and games.
Somerset County
Bridgewater
Municipal Complex, 100 Commons Way
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Enjoy free food, giveaways, tours of headquarters, music, games, face painters, a balloon artist, a dunk tank and more!
Hillsborough Twp.
Mountainview Park, 141 Mountainview Rd.
Meet local first responders, watch a K9 demo, splash an officer in a dunk tank, get your face painted and dance to DJ music.
Somerville
Carol Pager Park, Exchange Field, Green Street
6 – 8 pm
Bring your families to meet police officers on a more personal level and to enjoy free food, games, music and giveaways.
Union County
Union Twp.
Police headquarters, 981 Caldwell Ave.
5 – 9 pm
The event will include tours of the police department, Dunk-a-Cop dunk tank, a DUI goggle demonstration, exhibits by first responders, food, music and a DJ.
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