Neighborhoods to Join in National Night Out

Fairfax County residents will be hosting barbecues and ice cream socials out in front of their homes as an opportunity to get to know each other and, as a result, try to make the neighborhood a safer place.

Between 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday, residents are invited to turn on their porch lights and mingle as part of National Night Out. Already, more than 100 communities in Virginia are registered to participate.

The idea behind the event is that if residents get to know each other better, they will be more likely to work together to help keep their neighborhoods safe.

Residents can find celebrations at the following Fair Oaks District locations:

• Franklin Farm, 13501 Franklin Farm Road; ice cream social; 5:30-9 p.m.
• Cyrandall Valley North, 3032 Sugar Lane; annual dessert fest; 7-9 p.m.
• Elms at Oakton, 3211 Arrowhead Circle; hot dogs/moon bounce; 5-7 p.m.
• Marquis at Vienna, 9480 Centerboro Drive; NW information and lights only; 7-9:15 p.m.
• Circle Woods, 3024 Southern Elms Court; lights only; 7-9 p.m.
• University Square, cul-de-sac Bellavia Lane; ice cream social; 6-7:30 p.m.
• Southern Oaks, 12008 Bennett Farm Court; dessert social/inside residence; 7-9 p.m.
• Fairfax Villa, 11000 Berry St., Westmore ES in baseball field; 7-9 p.m.
• Random Hills Community, 11567 Laurel Lake Square; ice cream social; 6-8 p.m.
• Woodland Glen, visitor area on Maple Lane; ice cream social; 8-8:30 p.m.

For more information on National Night Out, or how to get involved, visit the Fairfax County Police Department website. .

This nationwide event began in the 1970s as a way to get people out of their homes and meet each other with the common purpose of making communities safer by raising crime prevention awareness.

More information on National Night Out is available at www.natw.org/nno. 

Patch’s Adam Swart and Joan Dentler contributed to this report.