National Night Out Is Back This Year In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — The annual National Night Out community event will be the first Tuesday in August in both Chatham Borough and Township, police announced.

Police, fire, and other first responders invite the Chatham community to a night of fun that includes free ice cream and swimming, food trucks, a dunk tank, a tattoo station, live music by Jacob Mathews, and more.

Residents can meet local police, firefighters, EMS workers and other professionals and explore their vehicles.

The Chatham Borough Police Department is hosting the police-community event, which is a yearly celebration where police departments across the country sponsor festivals, barbecues, block parties and other celebrations for the towns that they serve.

Admission is free, and it will be held at Memorial Park on Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 5-8 p.m.

Chatham Township's National Night Out is also in the works for the same date and time, with plans underway at the Colony Pool.

The goal of National Night Out is to strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The initiative, which began in 1984, promotes crime prevention activities, community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.