For a night of free, family fun, head out to Delta Street in Mount Joy, where National Night Out will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The festivities, hosted by Voyage Mount Joy, will offer something for everyone, with a focus on bringing community members and first responders together, said Allory Melhorn, event coordinator.

"This is a great family-friendly event," he noted. "We'll have a bounce house and face painting for the kids. We'll have live music from Jimmy the Whale. A lot of different food vendors are going to be there, too." Vendors will include Frisco's, the Rotary Fry Wagon, Voyage Mount Joy offering hot dogs and Starbucks selling drinks.

Local first responders will also be on-site for the event, including members of the Mount Joy Borough Police Department, Fire Department Mount Joy and Life Lion ambulance. Melhorn noted that plans were being finalized for some of the police officers to participate in a dunk tank at the event as well.

Held annually on the first Tuesday in August, National Night Out began in 1984 as a way to bring police and community members together. The first year, 2.5 million people across 400 communities in 23 states participated in the event. Over the years, the celebration has grown to encompass 38 million people in 17,000 communities throughout the United States.

"National Night Out is about bringing the community closer to the first responders and giving people a chance to get to know police officers and members of the fire department," Melhorn remarked. "It's a way to build community strength."

He encourages everyone to come out to the event, noting, "It's free to attend, and it's an opportunity to have some fun, try some different food options and enjoy a night out with your family."

For more information, search for "Mount Joy's National Night Out" on Facebook.