National Night Out gatherings to highlight community safety, fun

Neighborhoods all over the Seattle area will host block parties in the name of crime prevention — and fun — Tuesday night for National Night Out.

The 27th annual National `Night Out will see thousands of neighborhoods close streets, fire up barbecues and host gatherings with food, activities and safety information provided by local law-enforcement agencies.

The civic event is designed to heighten crime- and drug-prevention awareness, generate participation in local anti-crime efforts and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Residents in neighborhoods throughout the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights and spend the evening with neighbors and police at the various events.

Nationwide, an estimated 34 million people are expected to attend these events.

In Seattle alone, 1,219 blocks have been registered with the Seattle Police Department for Night Out parties — a record number — leaving residents with plenty of options.

On the Seattle Night Out Facebook page, local residents highlighted their neighborhoods' goings-on: In Green Lake's Tangletown district, kids can ride bikes on the closed-off streets and jump around in a bounce house from 6 to 9 p.m. on Northeast 61st Street between Latona Avenue Northeast and First Avenue Northeast. In the Central District, there will be a free community self-defense class at 7:30 p.m. at Seven Star Women's Kung Fu, 525 21st Ave.

Here are some other National Night Out events in the region:

In Everett, the biggest bash, hosted by the Everett Police Department, is in the Top Foods parking lot, 1065 S.E. Everett Mall Way. Police expect a few thousand local residents to show up starting at 5 p.m. for food, safety information booths and activities for kids.

The Night Out event at the South Everett Neighborhood Center, 6315 Fleming St., will provide children with a makeshift "passport." If they get their passport stamped from every activity and information booth at the event they'll be entered in a drawing to win prizes. That event starts at 4 p.m.

In Bellevue, a community party will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bellevue Police Crossroads Community Station in the 1200 block of 156th Avenue Northeast. The event will include prizes for the kids, demonstrations on public safety and food.

In Federal Way, 17 individual neighborhood gatherings will mark National Night Out, said Lindsey Tiroux, a spokeswoman for the Federal Way Police Department. One of the biggest celebrations is a barbecue with kids' games at the park in the middle of the city's Silverwood development, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 909 S.W. 364th Ave.

Jill Kimball: 206-464-2136 or jkimball@seattletimes.com