Locals Invited to Celebrate National Night Out at Heritage Park Thursday

Cerritos and Artesia residents are invited to the biggest block party of the year Thursday as the city of Cerritos joins communities nationwide in celebrating National Night Out.

The city of Cerritos is combining the featuring Film at Eleven (Classic '60s & '70s music) on Thursday, Aug. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. at in Cerritos.

"The band will be playing, the will be there helping man the tables, and the sheriff's Volunteers will also be present," said Lt. Allen Castellano of the . "We'll also have 'Operation Kid Print' available for parents wanting to maintain a fingerprint card on their children along with some information."

"This evening gives us (local law enforcement) the opportunity to out reach out to the community with crime prevention tips and safety awareness information," Castellano said. "It's just a great way to spend an evening outside and a way to bring the community together one night out of the year."

National Night Out is celebrated annually in more than 10,000 communities in the United States, the U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and on U.S. military bases around the world, according to a news release.

Residents locally are asked to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights, and come out to spend the evening with neighbors and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Attendees are encouraged to bring, picnics, blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy a night under the stars.

For more information on the Aug. 9 event, contact Mike Yach of the city's Community Safety Division at (562) 916-1258.