Tuesday, August 7th is Seattle’s 28th annual Night Out, when neighbors band together, close down their streets to traffic and throw block parties all over the city. The events are first and foremost fun and give residents a chance to discuss safety and emergency preparation. Last year there were over 1,000 block parties for Night Out. From the Seattle Police Department Blotter:

Falling on the first Tuesday of every August, “Night Out Against Crime” is a national event that encourages neighbors to gather and spend time together in an effort to heighten crime prevention/awareness and increase neighborhood safety.  Porch lights are typically turned on as a symbolic gesture supporting crime prevention.  When you register your event in Seattle, most non-arterial streets can be blocked off (without a fee), so you and your neighbors can take over your street.

Night Out is an excellent time to organize your block and address neighborhood concerns.

• If you haven’t yet formed a Block Watch, this is a great way to take that first step.

• It is also a great time to organize your neighbors for disaster preparedness through Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare or SNAP.

• All across the city there is concern about violent crime, especially gun crimes.  The problems of crime and violence in our communities cannot be solved by police alone.  You, the community, are the catalyst in preventing crime.  This year we invite neighborhoods touched or concerned by violence to use Night Out as an opportunity to take a unified stand against violence in their community.

More details at SPD, including instructions on how to register your party and close down streets, here.

Originally published July 8, 2012.