NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

National Night Out is in the summertime here in Cedar Park and surrounding areas but places like SA have it in October. We as a city chose summer because kids are out of school and find ways to keep the event cool. National Night Out is the best way to come together as a community and honor those that serve to protect it like our local police men and woman, first responders and fire fighters.

So this is how you get the best results:

1. Location: Choose your location and fill out the form online: Location can be as small has a few close neighbors or like ours that has grown to 3 neighboring communities at our local city park. Pass out a flyer and ask everyone to bring something to share. Invite others to help and contribute. The mistake I made a long time ago was I just did it all. That is not community.

2. Use Social Media: Encourage neighbors to join your neighborhood FB groups. If you don't already have one, great time to create one and live connected. Great place to post a sign up sheet so again everyone can work together

3. Be creative: Create fun ways to keep your group engaged: Bike parade is a great starter and is quick and easy. Your Kiddos will love it. We have a truck full of teens cheering on the bikers. Great way to get the party started. Water Balloons, splash zones, water guns... ALL great ways to keep your crew cool.

4. Preparation: Pre wrap burgers, hot dogs and chop sandwiches ahead of time and keep cold dishes on ice. Try to have guest bring single portion items if you can. Keep the flies away.

5. Stay hydrated with water, tea, gatorade or lemonade. Stay away from sodas.

6. Decorations make it fun with volunteers.

7. DJ: See if you have a local DJ in the neighborhood. Music and announcer always makes the event better. We are blessed to have ours and I could not do these events without him.