National Night Out is Aug. 4, 2026

National Night Out is an annual, nationwide community-building campaign held on the first Tuesday in August (August 4, 2026) that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. It features local block parties, cookouts, and safety demonstrations to foster safer, more caring communities. 

Many Scouting groups participate in this event as a fun, community service, and recruiting awareness opportunity.

If your Scout group plans to be out, please contact your District Executive for fliers or supporting materials to help with your efforts.

Key details about National Night Out include:

• Purpose: To strengthen relationships between neighbors and law enforcement, improve community safety, and increase awareness of crime prevention.
• Activities: Events range from small potlucks to large community festivals, including youth activities, safety demonstrations, and visits from police and fire personnel.
• Participation: Millions of residents in thousands of communities across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Canada participate.
• Origin: The program began in 1984 as a way to promote community-police partnerships and has grown annually.
• Scheduling: While primarily held on the first Tuesday in August, some regions may celebrate in October.