Local law enforcement and other emergency responders will participate in two free events on Tuesday in Centre County as part of National Night Out.
An annual regional event organized by Spring Township police will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Giant Food Stores, 2699 Benner Pike, and Bellefonte police will host the borough’s first National Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. on the waterfront near Talleyrand Park.
National Night Out is an annual campaign introduced in 1984 and held the first Tuesday in August to promote police-community partnerships.
For the third year, the Giant parking lot will welcome National Night Out hosted by Spring Township police. They will be joined by representatives from State College, Penn State, Ferguson Township and Patton Township police departments, the Centre County Sheriff’s Office, state police, FBI, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, Centre County Probation, and Pleasant Gap, Undine, Logan, Howard, Walker Township and Centre Hall fire companies.
The Meadows of Happy Valley, Chick-fil-A, Philly Pretzel Factory and Miller’s Tropical Sno will be on hand, and Giant will provide free hot dogs and sides. Vehicles on site for an up-close look will include a helicopter, Centre County Tactical Response armored vehicle and Centre Concrete specialty trucks.
Activities will feature pony rides, kids ax throwing, face painting and a dunk tank, and McDonald’s characters will be roaming the grounds.
“This event is aimed at being an entire countywide event, not just Spring Township,” the department wrote in Facebook post. “We understand the importance of making an accessible event to the entire community. The centralized location, Giant on the Benner Pike, allows everyone from both the Bellefonte area and the Centre Region to enjoy a family fun event.”
The Bellefonte police event, meanwhile, is meant to be within walking distance or a short drive for the borough community and will include police officers, emergency responders and community leaders on hand to talk with residents. Visitors will be able to check out emergency vehicles up close, including a LifeFlight helicopter.
In addition to free food and drinks while supplies last, activities and entertainment will include a petting zoo, face painting, games and a dunk tank.
“It creates conversation,” Bellefonte officer Todd Walter told StateCollege.com news partner The Centre County Gazette. “What’s going well? What’s going bad? What could be fixed? It’s designed to get people involved in the community. It’s a nationwide program where the community is encouraged to get out and interact with each other, local law enforcement, local community leaders, local emergency services and just get out of the house and talk.”
