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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Emma and Ava threw darts at balloons for a chance to win different prizes at the Austintown Night Out event on Aug. 2 at Austintown Township Park.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Children had the chance to meet Anna and Elsa from the movie "Frozen" during the Austintown Night Out event on Aug. 2 at Austintown Township Park.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Anthony worked on making his wood working craft that was provided by the Austintown Home Depot for children who attended the Austintown Night Out event on Aug. 2 at the Austintown Township Park.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Minions were at the Austintown Night Out event on Aug. 2 at Austintown Township Park for children to meet and take pictures with.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Gianna, Olivia and Quinn sat inside an Austintown Fire Department vehicle at the Austintown Night Out event on Aug. 2 at Austintown Township Park.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The fourth annual Austintown Night Out was hosted at Austintown Township Park on Aug. 2.
Austintown Night Out is an annual event that brings together the community with music, food, entertainment and local law enforcement. There was a DJ, several concession trucks, plenty of games for children to play and law enforcement vehicles like fire trucks and police cars.
“Night Out is an event put on across the country the first Tuesday of August every year. It’s put on by police departments and block watches,” said Shawne Wilfong, member of the Austintown Night Out committee.
Special characters made an appearance for the children to visit with. Children lined up to get pictures taken with Captain Hook, Ana and Elsa from “Frozen,” and a pair of Minions.
Games like balloon darts, a bean bag toss and many more were set up in a grassy area for children to play and have a chance to win prizes. A bouncy house from Austintown Bounce was set up for children to play in.
Tables from multiple local businesses were set up around the park with different information and activities available to the guests. Home Depot in Austintown had a table where they provided the children with different woodworking crafts to make things like birdhouses. Several concession trucks were open for the guests to get a snack from when they got hungry.
Law enforcement members stood next to their vehicles and were available for children to talk to and ask them different questions about their jobs. The vehicles were opened up for children to go inside and explore what they were like. Being able to explore and talk to law enforcement allowed the children to become more comfortable around them and learn that they are their to help.
“It helps let people in the community know we are watching our neighborhoods, we’re taking care of our neighborhoods. We want to make them safer and bring everyone together,” said Wilfong.