National Night Out: Where to Go

Though there won't be any fireworks, the city's spirit tonight will be just as festive as it was on Independence Day.

Tonight is , an annual event meant to strengthen communities and help reduce crime.

From 5 to 9 p.m., Union City will join more than 15,000 communities across the country in the 28th annual event dubbed “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”

While numerous block parties were held throughout the city in previous years, this year the Union City Police Department has selected four central locations so that public safety officers can spend more time with the community, said Officer Ryan Seto of the UCPD.

The four official locations are:

• (1800 H St.)

• (3438 Andover Dr.)

• (4525 Dyer St.)

• (33104 Navarro Dr.)

Each location will have a variety of attractions for families and children — such as food, face painting booths, bounce houses, DJs and live entertainment — along with SWAT and K-9 demonstrations.

Representatives from New York Life Insurance Company will also be at each location to provide Child ID services. The company will provide parents with a packet that includes fingerprints and a photo ID in the unfortunate event that a child goes missing.

"Unofficial" events are also being held at locations throughout the city.

The will host an event in the Decoto neighborhood featuring a performance by the Ballet Folklorico dance group and an exhibition by members of the Brickhouse Boxing program, according to Jill Stavosky, manager of Union City Leisure Services and an organizer of the event.

The Tamarack Knolls Neighborhood Watch Group will also host its own event.

"There are more than 170 homes in our group, so we're a pretty large group just on our own, which is one reason why we opted out of the UCPD events," wrote Kathy Miedema in a comment on Union City Patch.

The event will also feature activities for children, food and visits from public safety and city officials, though not quite on the same scale, she said.