Story from The Connection's website:
Communities throughout Fairfax celebrated the 24th Annual National Night Out, Tuesday, Aug. 7. The night, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, promotes community partnerships with local police officers. The event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation for anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and “send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” according to www.nationalnightout.org.
Neighborhoods around Fairfax typically celebrate outside with food and games for the children. It is an environment where neighbors can stop and get to know each other and their local police officers.

 
Photo by Lauren Glendenning/The Connection
Gavin Calarco, 7, plays a game at the Middleridge community’s National Night Out festivities, Tuesday, Aug. 7.
 

Photo by Lauren Glendenning/The Connection
Fairfax County Police Officers, from left, Daniel Valentini, Brian Wancik, Jessie Brooks and Stewart Smith, join the Middleridge community in Fairfax for its National Night Out celebration.


Photo by Lauren Glendenning/The Connection
Tim Harazin, 8, and his son, Mike, 8, buy some food from the Brion’s Grille stand at the Middleridge community’s National Night Out.


Photo by Lauren Glendenning/The Connection
Children play on the playground at Middleridge Park at National Night Out, Tuesday, Aug. 7.