National Night Out comes to downtown Clinton on Sept. 17

The City of Clinton and the Clinton Police Department will host National Night Out from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in downtown Clinton. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

The evening doubles as the final installment of the city’s 3rd Thursdays Concert Series, closing out the summer season with live music, food and a chance for residents to spend time with the officers who serve their neighborhoods.

The Weatherman Band will provide live music, and food vendors will be set up downtown throughout the event. Families can meet Clinton police officers, see department vehicles and equipment up close and take part in activities planned for children and adults alike.

National Night Out is a nationwide campaign that promotes partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Events are held in cities and towns across the country each year, built around the idea that neighborhoods are safer when residents and officers know one another. This year’s theme, printed on the event materials, is “Police, Community Partnerships, Stronger Together.”

For Clinton, the event offers a relaxed setting for conversations that do not often happen during a traffic stop or a call for service. Officers will be on hand to answer questions, talk about department programs and simply visit with the people they encounter every day.

Organizers encourage families to bring the whole household and plan to stay for the evening. Downtown businesses will be part of the backdrop as the concert series wraps for the year.