The 42nd annual National Night Out will take place in every ward across the City of Akron.

The event aims to “strengthen participation in local programs that prevent and deter crime, in an effort to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.”

Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, it promotes police-community relations and neighborhood unity, according to a press release from the city.

Each location will host different events and activities — most will have refreshments, music, and activities for kids. All are free to attend.

Here is the list of locations and times:

A drenched Akron Mayor Shammas Malik presents an equally drenched proclamation from the City of Akron to Gary Wyatt of the North Hill Community House.
In 2024, a drenched Akron Mayor Shammas Malik presents an equally drenched proclamation from the City of Akron to Gary Wyatt of the North Hill Community House during last year’s National Night Out event. The proclamation acknowledged the role of volunteers in helping host the National Night Out event. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)
  • Ward 1 — Church of Our Savior (471 Crosby St.): 5:30 – 7 p.m.
  • Ward 2 — Patterson Park Sports Complex (955 Patterson Ave.): 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Free school supplies, food, beverages, clothing, haircuts, games, prizes for kids and entertainment suitable for all attendees will be on hand. Summit County Public Health employees will be on site. For more information call Gary or Patricia Wyatt from North Hill Community House at 330-375-5065.)
  • Ward 3 — Summit Lake Community Center (380 W. Crosier St.): 4 – 7 p.m.
  • Ward 4 — James R. Williams Lawton Street Community Center (1225 Lawton St.): 5 – 7 p.m.
  • Ward 5 — Joy Park Community Center (825 Fuller St.): 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Ward 6 — Ellet Community Center (2449 Wedgewood Dr.): 5 – 7 p.m.
  • Ward 7 — Firestone Stadium (1575 Firestone Parkway): 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Ward 8 — Northwest Family Recreation Center (1730 Shatto Ave.): 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Ward 9 — Prentiss Park (2043 East Ave.) 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Editor’s note: The entrance address for the park was updated.)
  • Ward 10 — Linda Theatre (1745 Goodyear Blvd.): 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Summit County Sheriff's deputies Cory Boca and Allandra Klein
Summit County Sheriff’s deputies Cory Boca and Allandra Klein at a forensic and fingerprinting station during last year’s National Night Out event at Akron’s Ellet Community Center. The event was moved indoors across the city when stormy weather moved into the area. (Andrew Keiper / Signal Akron)
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Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.