Also known as National Night Out, the annual event held on the first Tuesday in August is designed to build relationships over food and fun with neighbors, law enforcement and others across your community.
While National Night Out was officially launched in 1984, Minnesota celebrates its own version with Night to Unite. Minnesota’s version, according to the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, “promotes police-community partnership, neighborhood camaraderie, and enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement.”
Check with your local municipality to determine if your community observes National Night Out, Night to Unite or both.
St. Paul is one of the cities in the Twin Cities participating in the community-building campaign.
“We encourage, ask for and appreciate ALL SAINT PAUL residents to participate on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 for the 39th Annual National Night Out!” the city notes on its website. “Neighborhoods include everyone: homeowners, renters, retail and all businesses are needed to help make our city ‘the most livable place in America!’
“Hosting a block party or an event of any kind, large or small, provides a way for people to meet one another and discover how they can keep their neighborhoods crime free and high quality for all who live, work and play there. National Night Out has proven, time and time again, to help people work together to improve the safety of their surroundings.”
Although it might be too late to officially register your block for an event, it’s not too late to plan something unofficial, or to attend a public gathering.
Public gatherings in St. Paul include Union Depot, located at 214 Fourth St. E. in Lowertown. The outdoor event, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., is free to attend and features food trucks, live music, chalk art, local artisans and more. Info at uniondepot.org/nationalnightout/.
Learn about other events and get ideas for hosting your own at stpaul.gov.
Sisters Sophia, 5, right, and Mia Sergot, 4, race through the water at the splash pad during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Wearing a sticker of a St. Paul Police Department badge on her forehead, Amy Lee, 14, from St. Paul, sits with cousins during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Tattoo artist Chris Calvillo, left, peels off a temporary tattoo sleeve from the arm of 17-year-old Elija Woldstad during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Community service tents are set up during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Kao Yang with Law Enforcement Career Path Academy grills burgers and hot dogs during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
The national flag of Mexico flies during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Interim St. Paul Police Chief Jeremy Ellison talks with Erik Gomez, 6, of St. Paul, during a National Night Out event at Parque de Castillo on St. Paul’s West Side on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Miss Minnesota 2019 Kathryn Kueppers pets Sgt Fuzz, being held by Kathryn Smith, at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Neighbors gather on Kent Street near the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center for food, games and camaraderie on National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell and McGruff the Crime Dog pet Sgt. Fuzz at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
St. Paul Police Department sergeant Robert Merrill talks with neighbors on Hague Avenue during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Neighbors gather on Hague Avenue during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Neighbors look on as they line up for hamburgers and hotdogs as Pete Gaffney works the grill at Galtier Community Elementary School during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A group a boys play a pick up basketball game at Galtier Community Elementary School during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
2 year-old Mae Joesting enjoys the last of her ice cream at Galtier Community Elementary School during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Ray Collins blows bubbles as he tries to entertain passing kids at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center during National Night Out in St. Paul on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Sherita Williams brings a tray of food out of the kitchen and onto the street as Cheryl Clardy’s kitchen crew fed the neighborhood for the fifteenth straight year on National Night Out, in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2018. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)
Kids enjoy the inflatable slide during National Night Out on the 1000 block of Fuller Ave. in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2018. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter gives Cheryl Clardy a hug and then an award for her fifteen years of organizing and sponsoring National Night Out on her block of Fuller in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2018. “This is my village, these are my kids,” says Clardy, who has lived on the same block 55 of her 63 years. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)
St. Paul Police Sgt. Asp hands off a frisbee to Makayla, 2, who was with her family attending National Night Out at the East Side Boys and Girls Club on Ames Ave. on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The event included games, food, face painting, free prizes and a carnival for club members and community children. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
Ismeal Hassan, 6, left and his big brother Nebiyu Hassan, 9, right took turns offering treats to Chloe, a black Lab who also attended the East Side Boys and Girls Club National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2017. “I throwed it up in the air and then it landed on the ground and she ate it,” said Ismeal. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
Eh Ku Tee Moo, 15, studies a photo of a dragon as he paints the picture on Ta Lay Say, 13 a the face painting table during the East Side Boys and Girls Club during National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
Debhora Adhanom enjoys a blueberry and raspberry snow cone during National Night Out at the East Side Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
Members of the Phoenix Dance team from Daolan dance studio performed at the East Side Boys and Girls Club National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017. The dance team practices at the Boys and Girls Club every Friday. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
Spencer Nichols feeds his 1-year-old daughter, Sheayra, during the East Side Boys and Girls Club Tuesday night. Nicols brought his three children and four of his nieces and nephews to the event, which included games, food, face painting, free prizes and a carnival for club members and community children on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
Kids have fun during a potato sack relay at the East Side Boys and Girls Club National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. (Ginger Pinson / Pioneer Press)
“Omigod! I worked at your bank! 20 years ago!” said Danette Allrich-Osano, who greets St. Paul Reserve Officer Rick Coller at a National Night Out event, hosted by Allrich-Osano, on Case Avenue in St. Paul on Tuesday August 4, 2009. Coller was a security officer at the bank Allrich-Osano worked at. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall)
Seven-year-old Austin McBride plays on a swing during National Night Out at West 7th Community Center in St. Paul , Minn. August 5, 2008. This year marks the 25th year for National Night Out, which is a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Last year over 35 million people participated throughout the U.S., U.S. territories, military bases and Canada. Along with a display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, communities also celebrate NNO with block parties, cookouts, parades, contests and youth programs. (PIONEER PRESS: Brandi Jade Thomas)
Two-year-old Parker Stephenson enjoys corn on the cob during National Night Out at West 7th Community Center in St. Paul , Minn. August 5, 2008. This year marks the 25th year for National Night Out, which is a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Last year over 35 million people participated throughout the U.S., U.S. territories, military bases and Canada. Along with a display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, communities also celebrate NNO with block parties, cookouts, parades, contests and youth programs. (PIONEER PRESS: Brandi Jade Thomas)