HUDSON COUNTY – Cities across Hudson County invited their residents to come out on Tuesday night for block parties and events to commemorate National Night Out.
National Night Out is celebrated as “America’s night out against crime.” The nationwide celebration is held to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen neighborhood spirit, generate support for local anticrime programs, and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back, according to the NNO website.
Many cities in Hudson County will host events for National Night Out.
In Bayonne, the NNO celebration will be held at the Bayonne Town Center from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and will include an obstacle course, mini golf, a bounce house, and more.
In Jersey City, residents are invited to events in both Pershing Field and Audubon Park from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. The events in Jersey City include music, face painting, temporary tattoos, a moon bounce, dunk tanks, demonstrations by the Harlem Wizards basketball team, and more.
In Hoboken, the celebration will be held between Second and Fourth streets on Harrison Street between 5 and 9 p.m. Many acts are scheduled to perform.
There will also be giveaways from local sports teams, water slides, miniature golf, free BBQ food, Rita’s Ice’s, as well as support from local businesses.
Earlier in the day, children’s fingerprinting will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hoboken Business Center located at 50 Harrison St. The event will also feature free face painting from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and balloon sculpting from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The Union City celebration will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on 22nd Street from New York Avenue to Summit Avenue. At that time, different community organizations will be handing out valuable information. Various musical groups, free rides for kids, and free hot dogs and soda will be served.
West New York will host their National Night Out against crime at the municipal pool from 6 to 8 p.m., according to published reports.
Three block party locations throughout North Bergen have been announced as part of the ‘National Night Out Against Crime’ celebration. The locations are Grand Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets, Broadway between 73rd and 76th streets, and 6121-6131 Grand Ave., the site of the North Bergen Housing Authority. Each block party in North Bergen will feature free food, drinks, and music, and is scheduled to begin at 6 pm.
Secaucus will host a National Night out crime prevention event at 6 p.m in Buchmuller Park before the summer “Movie in the Park,” which starts at 8:15pm. The event will feature food, games and activities. Representatives of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Dept., the DARE program, and others will be on hand for child fingerprinting and information. Hot dogs and refreshments will be served to those who attend. – Ray Smith