National Night Out

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while fostering a sense of community. It also provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities in all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August. The City of Palo Alto is proud to be one of these communities.

For more information about National Night Out nationally, visit the National Night Out website from the National Association of Town Watch.

There are two main ways you can choose to participate:

• More details will be posted as we get closer to August 1, 2023, but as in years past, we will likely host a block party on the evening of Tuesday, August 1, 2023 on the 200 block of Forest Avenue, in front of the police station! The party is free and open to the public. Enjoy popcorn, games, police vehicles on display, and police officers with whom you can chat.

• Your neighborhood can host a variety of events on the evening of August 1, 2023 - use your imagination! Events range from small potlucks between neighbors to large block parties. Please register your event with us, as we will make every attempt to have a Police Department staff member visit your neighborhood's gathering to connect and enjoy the evening with the community. As we get closer to the date, we will open event registration here online (there will be a form in the next accordion where you can begin the registration process).

Once we open registration for the 2023 edition of National Night Out (typically in May or June) there will be a web form in this accordion below that you can quickly complete to begin the registration process. Please check back as we get closer to the summer 2023!

What do I need to do to set up National Night Out?
It’s easy: simply plan an event for neighbors to attend on the first Tuesday evening of August, usually around 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Your event can be as formal or informal as you would like. For more information, expand the accordion above entitled "How Can I Participate in National Night Out?"

Can I block off my street?
Yes, but only once you receive a free block party permit from the Police Department. To begin the registration process, expand the accordion above entitled "I Want to Register a National Night Out-Themed Event."

Will police officers visit my block party?
Police officers and other Police Department personnel try to visit every registered National Night Out-themed event at some point during the evening. You must register your event in advance with us! Once we open the registration process for the 2023 event (likely in May or June 2023), expand the accordion above entitled "I Want to Register a National Night Out-Themed Event" to begin the event registration process.

Is there a cost from the City to host a block party or other event for National Night Out?
No. There is no cost to register your National Night Out-themed event with the Police Department, and there is no cost for a block party permit (if one is necessary for your event).

Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Please send an email to pd@cityofpaloalto.org and a member of the Police Department's National Night Out team will respond to you during business hours, usually within two business days.