National Night Out Coming in August

Hermosa Beach is joining forces with communities across the country to host a "night out," uniting the community, Tuesday, Aug. 2, between 6 and 8 p.m.

The National Association of Town Watch sponsors the annual National Night Out, which is an effort for communities to band together and learn how to prevent crime and drug use.

The idea, according to the National Night Out website, is to “send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.”

Public safety volunteers and participants in Hermosa Beach will be celebrating on Pier Plaza, according to Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch.

The local neighborhood watch in 2007 was honored out of 11,000 communities as a national Neighborhood Watch Award Winner for taking part in the 24th annual National Night Out, which was the city’s first time participating in the event.

Last year’s “night out” involved law enforcement agencies from 15,000 communities across the United States, and even in U.S. territories, military bases, and Canadian cities.

More than 37 million people took part, and organizers are aiming for 40 million this year. Communities have often thrown block parties, cookouts, and parades in celebration of the initiative.