By Mary Jane Farmer, Scene In Town for the Van Alstyne News. More photos at the bottom of this article. Anyone can download any photo(s) he/she wishes h to have. No charge-no problem.
There was absolutely no shortage of participants in this year’s National Night Out Tuesday night (Oct. 1, 2024). The annual event, which has happened in This smaller town since, at least, 1996, was held again this year at the town’s Central Social District Park.
There were two blow-up bounce houses, one a slide and the other a quite-literally bounce/jumping house. Vendors covered the ground offering information on how to prevent and/or handle crises, or medical or the outlaw kind; and handing out yummy foods and take-home gadgets.
The Van Alstyne Police Department had the help of the Parks’ Event Coordinator Kandi Hessell, and between them, they obtained numerous raffle give-aways. The kids, as always, enjoyed the splash pads and the children’s playground, along with some face-painting and the train rides around the park. Of course, they were really crazy for Spiderman and the 9-1-1 Fox, who helped referee the Tug-of-War between the two first-responding departments. The Fire Department had held the trophy for the last two years, but gave it up when the Police Dept. won the Tug this year.
Kids really enjoyed climbing into the various police vehicles on site, and most of them got the chance to turn the sirens on. And when the raffle drawing was held, there was more-than-one kiddo who approached Kandi with the winning ticket.
National Night Out is explained by its parent organization, The National Association of Town Watch, as “National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.” One thing that always happens here is… The city’s Fire Department is always involved, also. And it was the city’s Parks & Recreation Department who set up most of the grounds, the booths, and just about anything they were asked to do.
And the crowd is to be commended for (among other qualities), keeping the park grounds reasonably free of debris.
In Texas, NNO is always held on the 1st Tuesday of October, which in 2025 will be October 7 — Save The Date and See You There.
