National Night Out events in the Elgin area get underway Friday with South Elgin’s combo night out/back-to-school party set for 4 to 8 p.m. in Panton Mill Park.
“Combining National Night Out and our Back to School Bash into Back to School Night Out made perfect sense as both were family-friendly, free events originally scheduled within a week of each other,” said Jess Day, South Elgin’s recreation supervisor. “Merging them allowed us to create one exciting evening full of community spirit, safety awareness and back-to-school fun.”
The goal is to offer something for everyone while making the most of village resources and maximizing community engagement.
“Some of the best parts of the Back to School Bash that people can look forward to again this year include the foam party, inflatables, interactive games and activities, great food vendors and live entertainment. We’re featuring the Blooze Brothers,” Day said.
Sgt. William Werneske said the police department will be holding a touch-a-truck event, which will include police vehicles, a SWAT truck, school bus, fire truck and a Kane County Office of Emergency Management vehicle, and showcasing their equipment, which attendees can try on and wear for photographs.
“The goal of the event is to promote police and community relationships,” Werneske said. “This is accomplished by engaging with the residents and having fun.”
With parking being limited at the 9 N. Water St. park, a free shuttle will run every 20 minutes to transport people to and from South Elgin High School 760 E. Main St., where there is plenty of parking.
Also part of the event will be free 20-minute trolley rides along the Fox River from the Fox River Trolley Museum, which is just a short walk away from the park at 365 S. LaFox St./Route 31. The rides will begin at 5 p.m., according to a social media post.
One of the highlights of the village event will be a 500-backpack giveaway. Tickets to receive a backpack will be distributed at the park starting at 4 p.m., according to a news release. Children must be present to receive a ticket, which must be turned in by 7 p.m. in order receive a backpack, officials said.
“Families love the festive atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with local organizations and resources before the school year starts,” Day said. “It’s a fun, memorable way to celebrate the end of summer together as a community.”
Other National Night Out events are being held by Elgin and Carpentersville.
Elgin
Elgin will be holding a multitude of National Night Out festivities starting at 4 and 5 p.m. and running through 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Eight events open to the public will be hosted by Elgin police officers from the ROPE and NOPE programs, said Christy Schmidt, the police department’s community engagement specialist.
In addition to that, school resource officers are hosting a party for their Kids United summer program families. And there will be 19 other parties hosted by neighborhood groups.
Several teams, each made up of a character mascot, an Elgin police officer and an elected official or dignitary, will be assigned to visit specific block parties so each has at least one team in attendance. Elgin Fire Department crews also plan to visit each gathering.
“There are many community partners bringing their information out to the parties as well as supporting (National Night Out) in various ways,” Schmidt said.
For example, NOPE officer Juan Juarez said the party at Cornerstone Park on the city’s southwest side will feature more than $1,000 in food donated by Mariscos El Charco; a booth from social services organization A2J Community Navigators; a giveaway of a two big screen TVs, courtesy Mundo Auto; a UR Boxing demo; and free haircuts from a local barbershop.
Hosting the downtown party at the newly renovated DuPage Court will be Elgin police detective Ultan Gallagher.
Gallagher said he’s been working with the Downtown Neighborhood Association to create a Taste of Elgin featuring food from at least eight restaurants. Other attractions will include a demo from Pro Boxing Fitness and facepainting and crafts from Side Street Studio Arts.
“Anderson Humane reached out to us so we’ll also have a spot for them with pets up for adoption,” Gallagher said.
On the northwest side, Officer Kayla Heal, with help from Officer Reyna Cortes, is putting together a party outside Greater Grace Community Church.
“There will be free pizza, hot dogs, tacos and other food, tons of stuff for kids to do and representatives from social service agencies,” Heal said.
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The church does a lot for the community, including hosting a Christmas in July party, she said, so she’s hoping that congregation members and leaders can relax that night and enjoy hanging out with the crowd.
“I am looking forward to people meeting their neighbors and local businesses, making connections to get to know what might be right around the corner from them,” Heal said.
The biggest of all the Elgin parties takes place on Elgin’s northeast side. Officer Edwin Alva said that over the last four to five years he’s been involved, it’s drawn anywhere from 700 to 1,200 people.
“I think it’s so big because this is a close neighborhood,” Alva said. “There are four pillars that I work with and visit frequently. Those are the Salvation Army, the Gail Borden Public Library, the Northeast Neighborhood Association and McKinley Elementary School.”
To keep things fresh, he said he invites a new attraction each year. This year, a bagpipe and drum group will perform.
Carpentersville
The National Night Out party being held from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at Carpentersville’s Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave., is a collective effort organized by the Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow and Dundee Township police departments.
The Carpentersville Fire Department will have trucks there for attendees to check out as well as a Public Works Department touch-a-truck area, Carpentersville Social Services Coordinator McKenna Haas said.
They also will have a drunk driving simulator, a drone demo from 6 to 7 p.m., a K9 demo from 7 to 8 p.m. and a DJ playing music.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.