National Night Out

Every year, since 1984, on the first Tuesday of August, communities nationwide celebrate National Night Out (learn more here and here).

From the website:

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Locally, our National Night Out event is sponsored by Target (they are a primary sponsor - just not sure that sponsor it everywhere). They provide food and drinks, as well as goodie bags for the kids. The local police, fire, emergency response, and swat teams bring out their vehicles for the kids to explore. They even offer tours of the holding cells at the jail (assuming that they are empty!).

My kids always get such a thrill out of seeing all of the trucks and checking out the equipment in the police car. We take an annual picture of them next to the big tires on the ladder truck - a sort of bench mark of their growth.

Look for events near your community here.