DAYTON – It's that time of year again. National Night Out, the annual anti-crime and anti-drug family event that takes place across the country, is next Tuesday. The Dayton City Park will be filled with exhibits, activities and free food from 5-8 p.m.

Last year nearly 1,000 people attended this annual event here, sponsored by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and many local partners.

The event is designed to: (1) Heighten crime- and drug-prevention awareness; (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) send a message to criminals and drug dealers that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Thirty-two exhibits and displays are anticipated on the park lawn. Free hotdogs, courtesy of Banner Bank, will be served by members of the Dayton Kiwanis and Dayton Lion's Club and other local volunteers, while free soft drinks will be provided by Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. Free cold bottled water will be provided by Royal Neighbors of America and Puget Sound Energy.

Scheduled events include a close-up look at both Life Flight and Medstar helicopters, which will be flying in for display. You can have your child fingerprinted and videotaped for an emergency response identification packet by the Child Abduction Response Team. The sheriff's office will have its patrol boat on display.

The Washington State Patrol will provide demonstrations of its remote-controlled bomb robot. Columbia County Fire District 3 will provide tours of its ambulances and fire trucks. Washington Fish & Wildlife will attend with its new, large "TIPS" game-education trailer.

The YWCA is scheduled to provide a wide variety of kid's games and activities. Free swimming will be offered in the Dayton City Pool between 6-8 p.m. The Columbia County Health System will sponsor a free night-glow fun run beginning at 8:30 p.m.

And don't forget the free family movie in the park later in the evening courtesy of Blue Mountain Counseling, beginning at 9 p.m.

Free prize drawings will be offered by many of the exhibiters all evening, but you must be present to win.

Attendees are urged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and have fun at National Night Out. And Dayton City Public Works would like to remind everyone that there are no animals allowed in the park.

National Night Out is a family-oriented, alcohol- and smoke-free event.