Some Bay Area cities promote community ties with night out events

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Cities around the Bay Area will celebrate the 32nd annual National Night Out Tuesday evening with events intended to encourage neighbors to get to know each other and work together to prevent crime.

Neighborhoods and police will host block parties, festivals and other community events encouraging residents to turn on their porch lights and spend the evening outside talking to their neighbors and to police.

In many cities, police will be on hand to show off their vehicles and equipment or hand out stickers and promote public safety programs such as Neighborhood Watch.

In San Francisco, police will host events in all 10 police districts and on Treasure Island.

San Jose will have multiple events, including one hosted by the San Jose Fire Department at Fire Station 31, 1300 Ruby Ave., in the city's Evergreen neighborhood.

And in Oakland, where recent years have seen as many as 600 events planned throughout the city, residents can choose from dozens of events. Click here for a partial list of locations taking part in the event.

In many cities, Target, a sponsor of the National Night Out program, is hosting events in store parking lots.

In Petaluma, police and fire will be on hand from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Petaluma Target parking lot for an event that will include free food and drinks, face painting, arts and crafts and a bouncy house.

In Santa Rosa, the Target at Coddingtown Mall will host an event featuring a free barbecue and activities for kids including a gardening area, coloring booth, face painting and a bubble making booth.

For more information, residents should contact local police departments and city officials.