Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office moves National Night Out to October

Published 8:43 pm Thursday, August 17, 2023

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The Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office and Smithfield Police Department will each hold their National Night Out festivities in October rather than the nationally observed first Tuesday in August.

Deputy Alecia Paul, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office, cited high temperatures in August over the past few years as the reason for moving the nationwide community-building event to the fall when it’s cooler. Paul said the Sheriff’s Office will release more information on its National Night Out plans later in August.

The Windsor Police Department and Surry County Sheriff’s Office each held their festivities Aug. 1.

Windsor’s festivities were at the Windsor Town Center. The event included crime prevention information, children’s activities, free food and the opportunity to meet neighbors and local law enforcement personnel.

Surry’s festivities were at the Surry County Parks and Recreation Center, and included an opportunity to meet deputies and community leaders, free school supplies, free food, giveaways and music.

Smithfield, starting in 2021, joined with communities in Texas to move their festivities to the first Tuesday in October.

National Night Out, according to its website, began in 1984 via a network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, crime prevention associations and volunteers came together to coordinate events in 23 states.