Etna and Sharpsburg will join municipalities across the region in hosting a National Night Out this summer.
The inaugural celebration will be 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Gateway Portal, along Bridge and North Main streets.
Hailed as a night of appreciation for first responders, the event is aimed at boosting community relationships among neighbors and emergency personnel.
Some of the groups represented at the event will include Etna police, Etna Fire Department, Shaler-Hampton EMS, Sharpsburg police, Sharpsburg K-9 Unit, Sharpsburg VFD, Seneca Area EMS, and the North Hills Special Response Team. They will have vehicles and equipment for people to check out first-hand.
National Night Out has become a staple in Lower Valley communities, like neighboring Aspinwall, which will celebrate its 10th event this summer.
There, crowds have grown to more than 1,000 people who come out for the festival-type atmosphere.
Night Out events are held across the country to encourage residents to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights and spend the evening getting to know their neighbors, police officers, firefighters, EMS and other community organizations, organizers said.
On Aug. 6, there will be live music from Right On 5th Band and food trucks that include Korean grill MR Bulgogi, The Pub Chip Shop and Kona Ice.
