National Night Out events Aug. 7 in Brainerd, Baxter

National Night Out events are scheduled for Aug. 7 in Brainerd and Baxter.

In Brainerd, four neighborhood groups will hold National Night Celebrations along with the Brainerd Police Department, Brainerd Fire Department and McGruff the Crime Dog. The events are:

Northeast - Lum Park-Potluck supper, music 5:30 p.m.

North - Gregory Park-Ice cream social 5:30 p.m.

Southeast/South - Harrison School-Sloppy Joe supper, music 5:30

Northtown Development - Dessert potluck 6:30 p.m.

In Baxter, the National Night Out event will be 7-9 p.m. at Oscar Kristofferson Park. The event will start with a kiddie parade open to children under 11. Children who wish to be involved should be at the park by 6:45 p.m. They are encouraged to dress up, decorate their bikes and wagon or make parade floats. Prizes will be given away for most creative entry.

There will root beer floats, face painting, Smokey Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog, a K9 demonstration at 8 p.m., child identification, 911 demonstration, a DUI demonstration, Baxter Police officers, Brainerd firefighters, the DNR, the State Patrol, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department, the Lakes Area Drug Investigation Division, the Crow Wing Passenger Safety Coalition, Crow Wing Power and CenterPoint Energy.

The event is sponsored by the Baxter Police Department and the Baxter Lions.

National Night Out, held in cities throughout the country, is designed to build stronger and safer communities by drawing neighbors together in an effort to fight crime. Millions of citizens, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses and youth organizations from 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases world wide will join to observe this safety event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.