Community Night Out in Princeton will have to wait until next week as weather postponed the annual event designed to strengthen the community, relationships with the police department and local organizations.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain on Aug. 6, the intended date for Community Night Out, postponed the event to next week on Aug. 13 from 5-8 p.m. in the parking lot at 400 Witherspoon St. and Community Park Pool.
“Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather forecast for tomorrow, we are postponing Community Night Out,” the Princeton Police Department posted on their Facebook page on Aug. 5. “The event will now be scheduled for next Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 5-8 p.m. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
The Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 130, the Princeton Police Department and the Princeton Recreation Department organize Community Night Out in Princeton.
Children will once again be able to climb and work their way through inflatable bounce house obstacle courses and compete with each other, residents will have free admission to the Community Park pool, enjoy food and music, and explore the Princeton Fire Department Engine trucks and fire department vehicles, First Aid and Rescue Squad vehicles, ambulances and equipment.
In 2023, Community Night Out also featured a dunk tank as it has in previous years and tables on the sidewalk for families to learn more about various local organizations. There were also hands-on learning stations and ones where children could color.
Community Night Out is Princeton’s version of National Night Out, which was introduced nationally in 1984 and is an annual community building campaign that was created to make communities safer and build trust between communities and their police departments, according to the National Association of Town Watch.
This is the 41st year of the campaign, which had millions of people participate and attend across all 50 states. Local communities either hosted block parties, parades, and cookouts to celebrate the community event.
National Night Out has occurred in 17,000 communities.
The National Association of Town Watch sponsors the annual nationwide event that is also celebrated in U.S. territories and on military bases worldwide with a goal to establish stronger relationships and camaraderie between officers and the communities they serve.
2023 Princeton Community Night Out at 400 Witherspoon St. in Princeton.
Princeton Police officer on the grill during the 2023 Community Night Out in Princeton.
