Strength in community

Join police at National Night Out events in the Fox Valley

Daniel Pawlisch, 9, tries on Elgin SWAT gear as his brothers Avery, 6, and Matthew, 7, watch at the Elgin National Night Out event at Festival Park. (John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com, 2015)

Families wait in line on the front lawn at the Kane County Judicial Center campus to see a Superior Air Ambulance up close at the Kane County Sheriff’s National Night Out celebration in St. Charles. (Daily Herald Archives, 2015)

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Many local communities throughout the Fox Valley will be participating in the 33rd annual National Night Out Against Crime with gatherings, block parties, games and other activities. It is celebrated annually the first Tuesday of August. Its goal is to promote crime prevention and safety programs, strengthen police-community partnerships and encourage neighborhood camaraderie. Learn more at natw.org/about/.

Algonquin: 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Algonquin Main Library, 2600 Harnish Drive. Features entertainment, displays, and fun in the library’s backyard and parking lot. Residents can meet police officers and participate in hourly raffles, a “Cookies with a Cop” storytime, and a “Dunk-a-Cop” dunk tank. Attendees can visit with dogs from the Illinois/Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dog Team and get a good view of high-tech emergency response vehicles. Grilled hot dogs will be served from 5 to 7 p.m.

Info: (847) 658-4531 or (847) 458-6060.

Campton Hills: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 on School Street between Route 64 and LaFox Road. More than 25 area organizations and businesses will participate. Includes simulated firefighting, hula hooping, face painting, contests and demonstrations. Live animals will be on site. Free snacks and healthy food samples will be available. Info: (630) 641-6942 or (630) 584-4242.

Carpentersville: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, Carpentersville Police Department, 1200 L.W. Besinger Dr. Features yard games, inflatables, emergency vehicles display, vendors, raffle, hot dogs and ice cream for purchase. Canned goods accepted for food pantry. Free. Info: (224) 293-1700.

Cary: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, in downtown Cary. Meet with Cary police officers, public works staff and Cary Fire Protection District personnel and check out their displays. There also will be personnel from the Illinois State Police. Cary Park District will provide games for children, and there will be multiple tow trucks on display from A+, D&L, Ormsby’s, and Whitey’s Towing. In “Big Splash,” kids can have the opportunity to soak a police officer. In addition to free popcorn, water and freeze pops, food vendors include Papa Saverio’s and Dairy Queen. There also will be a magician, face painting, coloring contest, and a bike helmet/safety booth. Info: (847) 639-2341 or www.caryillinois.com.

Crystal Lake: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Three Oaks Recreation Area, 5517 Northwest Highway. Includes K-9 demo, martial arts/fitness demo, police cars on display for Touch-a-Truck, monster truck bounce house, child ID station, and food for purchase. Free parking after 4:30 p.m. www.crystallake.org.

Elgin: 6 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Festival Park. 132 S. Grove Ave. Celebrate America’s Night Out Against Crime at Elgin’s citywide block party. Features a movie in the park (at dusk), “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” a K-9 demo, the police department’s BATT and Tactical Response Team equipment, food trucks, live music by Copper Harbor and a helicopter landing (weather permitting). Includes children’s activities such as inflatables, splash pads, fire safety smoke house, fire pole, antique fire truck, train, and safety town. Kids can dress like a “Star Wars” character for a chance to win a special prize. www.cityofelgin.org /.

Geneva: Residents can celebrate National Night Out with free pool admission at both Mill Creek and Sunset Pools from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2. Sunset Pool is at 710 Western Ave. and Mill Creek Pool is at 39W125 S. Mill Creek Drive. Info: (630) 232-4542 or genevaparks.org.

Huntley: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Huntley Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St. Features police department and jail tours, bounce house, dunk tank, bike rodeo, vehicle display and Huntley Fire Protection District Displays. Free. www.huntley.il.us /.

Kane County Sheriff’s Office: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 37W755 Route 38, St. Charles. Features a dunk tank, bounce house, and a chance to meet Deputy Nick Wolf and his K-9 Erin. Included: Bomb Unit, Corrections Response Team, court security, honor guard, K-9 Unit, Special Weapons and Tactics; Kane County Coroner, Division of Transportation, Farm Bureau, Mounted Rangers and Emergency Management. Tour the shooting range and inmate cell block. www.kanesheriff.com /.

Lake in the Hills: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Lake in the Hills Safety Education Center, 1109 Crystal Lake Road (the building just south of the police department). Free Community Cookout features hot dogs, K-9 demonstration, Flight for Life, police department tours, fire truck and police vehicles display, kids’ activities, Experience the simunition (paint/training marking cartridges) trailer and try the drunk (DUI) goggles, talk to “PC” the robotic police car. Info: (847) 658-5676 or www.facebook.com/LakeintheHillsPolice /.

McHenry County: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Harrison Benwell Conservation Area, 7055 McCullom Lake Road, Wonder Lake. McHenry County Conservation District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the Wonder Lake Fire Departments team up to to promote crime prevention and safety programs. Included: food and beverages, information booths, Project S.W.E.E.P., Sheriff’s Office Explorers, volunteer and other programs, police and fire equipment on display. Special demonstrations: Extrication at 5 and 6:50 p.m. by Wonder Lake Fire Protection Department; Precision Motorcycle Riding at 5:20 and 6:30 p.m. by McHenry County Conservation District Police; Police K-9 demonstration at 5:45 p.m.by McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Free. Info: www.MCCDistrict.org or (815) 338-2144.

North Aurora: From 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, residents in neighborhoods throughout North Aurora are asked to turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police. The North Aurora Police Department will have extra officers and McGruff the Crime Dog on patrol stopping by citizen gatherings. They’ll share crime prevention information, show off their squad cars and give away sticker badges to the kids. Residents hosting an event should register to ensure a police visit. Contact Crime Prevention Officer Robyn Stecklein at (630) 906-8146 or rstecklein@northaurora.org.

South Elgin: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, Jim Hansen Park, Concord and Valley Forge avenues. “Party in the Park” event. Concert at 7 p.m. with Miss Carole and Clarence of Macaroni Soup. Free event features: McGruff and friends, Captain Jack Sparrow, Tom Boz’s Strolling Magic, photo and video booth, Chuggy Choo Choo obstacle course, Eurobungy, Tammy Town Safety, Water Rescue team demonstration, Neighborhood Watch display and vehicle, face painting, bounce house, hayrides, kids’ rides and games, displays by civic organizations and businesses, emergency vehicle displays. Hot dogs available for purchase. www.southelgin.com