HARRISBURG – Following an immensely successful first year, Harrisburg’s National Night Out is back on City Island, Tuesday, August 6. The Harrisburg Bureau of Police, Harrisburg Bureau of Fire, and dozens of City of Harrisburg non-profits will take part in the annual event, which promotes community building between first responders and local neighborhoods.
National Night Out is taking place from 5:00-8:30pm.
City of Harrisburg residents will get to meet and get-to-know police officers, firefighters, and EMTs throughout the evening. There will be family-friendly activities and games, food, and informational giveaways courtesy more than 50 non-profit organizations which serve the Harrisburg community.
“We had such a great turtnout last year, so we thought, let’s do it again, and make it better,” Winder said. “Now, people have heard about it, and if they didn’t get a chance to experience it, now they can take advantage of it.”
Harrisburg’s 2024 National Night Out will be its second consecutive visit to City Island. Last year, thousands of city residents showed up and walked, biked, and rode around the island. The decision was made to go back to City Island to utilize one of Harrisburg’s most beautiful, and underutilized parks, said Harrisburg Police Captain Russell Winder of the bureau’s Community Services Division.
The north side of City Island — Riverside Drive and Championship Way — will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event. Bicycle riders will be able to bike throughout City Island. Free parking is available in both north and south parking lots on City Island. There will be two sections of the parking lot cordoned off for handicap parking, with increased numbers of golf carts available to transport individuals who need assistance throughout the National Night Out path.
In addition, Capital Area Transit, a service of Rabbit Transit, is offering free bus service on all city routes from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6 to help families make their way downtown. A shuttle will be available at the Market Square Transfer Center to take people across the river.
This year’s National Night Out will have ten food vendors spread throughout the park, including food trucks at the Harrisburg Beach Club and in the Harrisburg Senators VIP parking lot area, the Salvation Army firing up the grill, tacos and empanadas, and Farm Show Milkshakes. Also, returning from last year’s National Night Out is Blue Bear BBQ, a food truck operated by Harrisburg Police Officer Wesley Feduke.
“This will be the most diverse offering of foods we’ve ever had for National Night Out,” Winder said.
When families get to City Island, they will be greeted by the Community Services Division information table. The City Island Railroad will be up and running with three total stops – its main station, outside Water Golf, and the arcade — to help people get to points on the island faster.
The City Island Carousel is expected to be fully operational for National Night Out. In the lawn area near the Carousel, the Harrisburg Police K9 division will have demonstrations with their police dogs.
There will be a helicopter making a landing on the soccer field around 6 p.m., offering inside tours while grounded.
Making its return is one of the more popular stations: the Harrisburg Police dunk tank. This year, everyone will be able to take their throw at dunking Deputy Police Chief Kenny Young, as well as other Harrisburg Bureau of Police officers. Also coming back will be free face painting and balloons. Live jazz will be available to enjoy by the island’s east end overlook deck. A magician will be walking around the island park performing tricks, and the Harrisburg Cougars Cheerleaders will be performing cheers throughout the festival route.
New to National Night Out this year will be a jazzercise class, taught by former Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Colonel Kristal Turner-Childs, the first Black woman in the department’s 118-year history to attain the rank. The class will be held in the pavilion between the carousel and FNB Field.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire will be on hand along Championship Way outside the FNB Field third baseline with a truck, and everyone can hop in a bucket and get a bird’s eye view of City Island and Harrisburg.
“Come and have fun!” Winder added. “We don’t have issues at National Night Out because it’s all about bringing community together with the services that are out there for you.”
Unfortunately, due to mechanical issues, the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat is not functioning this summer and will not be available for rides this year.
Contact
Matt Maisel
Director of Communications, City of Harrisburg
(717) 255-7295
[email protected]
