This is the 28th year of the national event.
Jean L. Fitzgerald, left, organizer of the National Night Out Against Crime event in Chicopee Monday, walks with Chicopee Police Lt. John F. Pronovost during last year's event in Sarah Jane Sherman Park.
Police and residents across Western Massachusetts will try to fight crime this week with barbecues, police demonstrations and other events.
This is the 28th year cities and towns across the country will hold special events Tuesday for the National Night out Against Crime. Locally, communities including East Longmeadow, Palmer and Springfield will join in on the Aug. 2 celebration.
In Springfield there will be celebrations at the Marshall Roy Field off St. James Boulevard, Hubbard Park off Parker Street, Worthington Commons at Federal Street, Allen Park Apartments at 251 Allen Park Road and Seniority House, 307 Chestnut St. Start times range from 4 to 6 p.m.
The purpose is to strengthen the relationship between police and residents, tell criminals residents are fighting back, generate local support and participation in anti-crime efforts and raise drug prevention awareness, said Sgt. John M. Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet.
Chicopee is celebrating a day early with a flashlight parade, cookout, police and fire department demonstrations and a wing-eating contest, said Jean L. Fitzgerald, organizer of the Willimansett Neighborhood Committee and a founder of the city’s Night Out event.
The event, which will start at 5 p.m. Monday in Sarah Jane Sherman Park off Chicopee Street, will be the 18th in Willimansett. The celebration was moved today after City Council requested the change because their meetings are usually held on Tuesdays and they wanted to participate in the event, Fitzgerald said.
Last year more than 3,000 people attended in Chicopee and this year organizers are hoping to attract 4,000, Fitzgerald said.
Some of the highlights include a wing eating contest that will pit three members of the Chicopee High School football team against three football players from Comprehensive High, skateboard and bicycle demonstrations, local teen bands and a variety of police demonstrations, she said.
“It started with the Willimansett Neighborhood Committee. We wanted to say with the crime and the gangs and the drugs you don’t have to move out of here. We can stay and do something,” Fitzgerald said.
Chicopee, Holyoke and Springfield police and community leaders will also hold a breakfast Monday in Chicopee to share ideas on preventing crime, she said.
In Palmer an event with food, music, pony rides, fire trucks and police cars will begin at 6 p.m. at the Blue Star Equicluture, 3090 Palmer St. A drum circle and bonfire will begin at 8 p.m.
East Longmeadow’s event will begin at 5 p.m. at the high school. The state police will land a helicopter and bring a dog team. There will be food and demonstrations from the police and fire departments.
Staff writer Lori Stabile contributed to this report.