DAPHNE, Ala. — You can meet and mingle with local law enforcement officers and public safety employees from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at Al Trione Sports Complex in Daphne or from 5 to 7 p.m. that day at Pelican Place Mall in Gulf Shores.

The event, touted as “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” is designed as an outlet for law enforcement, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials to get together in a fun way. The event may look like a festival, but according to organizers, there is more to it than fun and games.

“It is when our local Target stores partner up with law enforcement and the community, to kind of educate the community on different things that law enforcement provides for us. It is also to kind of give the kids and community an idea of a (police) presence and what they do,” Desiree Muhammad, organizer for the local event, said.

Children can see police officers outside official duty — as friends.

The Daphne Target location has been involved with the event for years in partnership with Mobile stores, but three years ago, the store decided to branch out on its own to sponsor the event locally.

Events across the country will be different. Many, like the one in Daphne, will be a block party; other options include cookouts, police visits, parades, flashlight walks and contests.

“We will have hot dogs, a snow-cone machine, popcorn for the kids, inflatables, different members of law enforcement there, state troopers, fire department…. They will be explaining the D.A.R.E. program…” Muhammad said.

Target has sponsored the event nationally for 28 years.

During National Night Out last year, 15,000 communities participated and 37 million people attended the event, working toward heightening crime and drug prevention awareness, bringing awareness to local anticrime programs, strengthening neighborhood spirit and sending a message to criminals that members of the community can organize against them and are willing to fight back.

For more information about National Night Out see, nationaltownwatch.org/nno.

For more information about Daphne’s event, contact 251-621-3540.