Thirty-one years ago, two and a half million people in the United States participated in the first National Night Out, an event to raise crime-prevention awareness in neighborhoods and cities across the nation.

It is celebrated on the same day in all communities across the country.

This year the national event is on Aug. 5, and Washington will host its part of the event at Beebe Memorial Park from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Kimberly Grimes, Washington’s community outreach coordinator said the Washington Police Department officials want to show the residents of the city that they are fighting crime.

Police department officials also use National Night Out to help promote neighborhood watches as well.

“We try to educate in regards to helping one another in our neighborhoods,” Grimes said. “We realize that the police cannot always be at every location at every single moment. That is one of the reasons we have National Night Out.”

In 2014, according to Grimes, six to seven neighborhoods have signed up for a neighborhood watch.

“We have to work together in order to get our neighborhoods back. We have to be responsible for our neighborhoods in our community,” Grimes said. “People are realizing that now.”

In years past, organizations like Beaufort County Community College and Beaufort County Health Department have come to National Night Out to help educate residents, while the event also provides fun for the children.

“What we do is turn into something really fun for the kids and informational for the adults,” Grimes said. “We invite a DJ out and invite different organizations to be a part of this.”

Last year at National Night Out, children were given the opportunity to tour Washington Fire Department trucks on display.

“It’s a real great event, and she (Grimes) does a real excellent job coordinating it, and it’s one of the best ones I’ve seen,” said Mac Hodges, Washington’ mayor. “There were probably 300 kids at least last year out, and it’s a lot of fun.”