The Asheville Police and Fire Departments and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, with the sponsorship support of Target, Inc., will host a local National Night Out (NNO) kick off event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Carrier Park on Amboy Road.

Neighborhoods are encouraged to participate in the family-oriented kick off celebration, which will feature food, raffle prizes provided by Target including 20 inch bikes (one for a girl and one for a boy), backyard games with law enforcement officers and demonstrations of public safety vehicles and equipment. 99.9 KISS Country, Star 104.3 and LEAF in Schools and Streets and the Easel Rider Mobile Art Lab will be at the event to provide entertainment for kids and adults.

NNO is a nationwide, annual crime prevention and community policing event. NNO events are designed to strengthen neighborhood spirit and community law enforcement collaboration by promoting crime prevention. Public safety officers will be available to offer tips and facts about crime prevention. After the kick off, neighbors are encouraged to work with local law enforcement to develop year round strategies to build community and neighborhood solidarity against crime.

More than 35 million people across the nation are anticipated to take part in NNO events. This year’s sponsorship is part of the ongoing support that Target, Inc. provides to local law enforcement agencies and community groups throughout the country.

For more information about local National Night Out activities and ongoing crime prevention strategies, contact Natalie Bailey, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, at Natalie.Bailey@buncombecounty.org or 250-4469 or Marsha Stickford, City of Asheville Neighborhood Coordinator at mstickford@ashevillenc.gov or 259-5506.

For more information about the national initiative, visit www.nationalnightout.org/nno/.