Sunny skies expected for tonight's National Night Out celebration at the Common

Kids frolic on a Strafford County SWAT team Bearcat Tuesday during Rochester's National Night Out at the Common. (Rochester Voice file photo)

ROCHESTER - Sunny skies are forecast for this evening's National Night Out celebration, which will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Rochester Common.

The event features more than 20 local organizations and businesses, local food vendors, live music, touch a safety vehicle for the younguns, family friendly activities, and a free movie.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer. According to a press release sent out by the city of Rochester, National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.

Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to get police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

National Night Out was established by Matt Peskin in the western suburbs of Philadelphia and has been held annually since 1984 except during the pandemic.

National Night Out began simply with neighbors turning on their porch lights and sitting in front of their homes.

The first National Night Out involved 2.5 million residents across 400 communities in 23 states; National Night Out 2016 involved 38 million residents in 16,000 communities across the United States.

Tonight's Rochester City Council meeting will be delayed by an hour, so councilors and the mayor can be on hand for the celebration.