National Night Out, held the first Tuesday in August each year, will be celebrated all across the country in several communities. 

The event started in the 1980s as an opportunity for neighbors to turn their porch lights on and talk with law enforcement and first responders on ways to keep communities safer. Jacksonville National Night Out Co-Chair Leslie Forsman says its a way for a community to meet first responders in their community in a non-stressful situation.

131 Illinois communities are hosting National Night Out events.