National Night Out has been an annual tradition since 1984, meant to bring awareness to police programs in communities across the country. Delran will host its version of the event on Aug. 2.
What started with roughly 400 national communities participating now involves more than 15,000 and counting. The township’s first Night Out began in 2018 and is returning for the first time in two years after a COVID pause.
“Today, it’s an opportunity for us all to get together, enjoy our neighbors, our first responders, law enforcement officers and just have a good time,” Council President Tyler Burrell said. “We try to center it around entertainment and a good time for everyone.”
Delran’s Night Out features food trucks, activities, a performance from Don’t Call Me Francis and a fireworks show that will start promptly at 9:30 p.m. A lineup like that takes time to plan, but the two-year pandemic break helped.
“We’ve done this so much now that everyone knows their place in that larger puzzle to get it done,” Burrell noted. “It’s like pulling the playbook off the bookshelf and everyone knows how to execute.”
Previous Night Out attendance is about 4,000 people, proving just how big the event has gotten in only a few years.
“It’s a lot of work,” Burrell acknowledged. “There’s a lot of time and volunteers and organizations that come together for one mission, and I think that’s a great testament to the township.”
Community interest in the event is a given.
“I think everyone is excited to bring it back,” Burrell said. “It’s a great family fun event for the community when everyone gets involved. It’s a whole community event.
“Everyone is just really happy to do this and to have it again.
Night Out hours will be 6 to 10 p.m. at Delran Community Park. More details can be found on the township website.
