LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department and Lakeport Police Department invite community members to come out and participate in a night against crime on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Clearlake and Lakeport are joining communities across the United States in participating in the 36th annual “National Night Out.

In Clearlake, the event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Highlands Park on Lakeshore Drive, across from Castle Donuts.

The Clearlake Police Department will provide free toys for children and adult prizes in a raffle. Food and beverages will be provided free of charge. Activities are planned for adults and children alike.

Lakeport’s National Night Out event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Library Park.

The city of Lakeport will have free hot dogs donated by Grocery Outlet in Lakeport and grilled by members of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport, Little Caesars pizza donated by Kmart, along with popcorn from the Lakeport Cinema 5 movie theaters, plus snow cones and bottled water provided by Paradise Skate Roller Rink & Arcade.

The Lakeport Main Street Association will help decorate bicycles for children competing for prizes. Other children’s games and activities with prizes from local merchants will be available.

There will be a special appearance of Batman and his Batmobile. Community organizations and agencies will be present with information about their programs and services.

National Night Out, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, will involve more than 16,790 communities from all 50 states, territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, more than 38.6 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”

The annual event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The introduction in 1984 of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie, and to send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The first National Night Out in 1984 attracted 2.5 million Americans across 400 communities in 23 states. National Night Out now involves over 37 million people and 15,000 communities from
all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.

“National Night Out represents the kind of spirit, energy and determination to help make neighborhoods a safer place year round. While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, the night celebrates safety and crime prevention successes and works to expand and strengthen programs for the next 364 days,” said National Association of Town Watch Executive Director Matt Peskin.

In Lakeport, where National Night Out has been held since 2013, the event is an opportunity for the community to meet and greet local emergency and public service personnel, city council members and city staff, according to the Lakeport Police Department, which coordinates it.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he, his police department and the city are grateful to multiple agencies and organizations registered to date and attending the event to provide public information or assist at the event: Lake County Department of Social Services, Lake County Amateur Radio Society, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Lake County Probation, Lake County Office of Education, Lake County Department of Health Services, Lake County Behavioral Health Services, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lakeport Unified School District and Safety Committee Information, Lakeport Main Street Association, SNAPS Lake County, SafeRx Lake County, Lake County Child Support Services, Lake Family Resource Center, Victim-Witness Division of the Lake County District Attorney, Lake County Sheriff OES, American Red Cross Lake/Mendocino Chapter, Local Government Commission for Lake APC Projects, Lakeport Fire Protection District, Area Agency on Aging, Lake County Child Welfare Services, California Highway Patrol Clear Lake, Lakeport Public Works Department, City of Lakeport, Lakeport Kiwanis Club, Chayo Mosqueda Face Painting, Face Painting by Kathy, Ferreira Family Fight Academy, Kmart, Paradise Skate Roller Rink & Arcade, Boy Scout Troop 42 – Lakeport, Lake County Roller-Ettes, announcer Martin Scheel, and Batman with the Batmobile.

Sponsoring businesses participating include Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Pak N Mail, DSR Security Services, The Yard, Lake County Roller – Ettes, Lakeport Kmart, Little Caesars, Lake County Fair, Lakeport Cinema 5 and Lakeport Auto Movies, Servpro of Lake County, Wicked Sounds-DFM, Lake County News, Lakeport Camper & Truck, Sanducci’s Cottage, Lakeport Bait & Tackle, O’Meara Bros. Brewing Company, Paradise Skate Roller Rink & Arcade, Grocery Outlet Lakeport, The Wholly Bowl, ChalermThai Bistro, Stone Fire Pizza, Gaslight Grill, NAPA Auto Parts Lakeport, Jimmy’s Deli & Taqueria, Juicy’s Pizza, Renee’s Café, Howling Dog Café, Mendo Mill & Lumber Company – Lakeport, Hillside Powersports & Marine, Lakeport Tire & Auto, Matt Mazzei Chevy Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, The Nerd Cave, Kingdom Games & Comics, Marcel’s French Bakery - Lakeport and Dusty D Work Wear are supporting the event.

Additional sponsors will be acknowledged as they are confirmed.

For more information, visit the Lakeport event page on Facebook.