National Night Out promotional poster shows four officers at the top, along with photos of police and fire badges and information about the event.

The Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) invites the community to National Night Out, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Yona Redz, 532 State St.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign meet-and-greet held across the country on the first Tuesday in August.

The event is designed to promote strong neighborhood bonds, enhance public safety, and foster positive relationships between residents and law enforcement.

Locally, National Night Out attendees can ask questions, and get to know their local first responders better.

This year, SBPD is partnering for the event with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Probation, and the Mesa Starbucks.

The origins of National Night Out can be traced back to 1984. The inaugural National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors from 400 communities across 23 states.

Since then, the event has grown significantly, with millions of participants from thousands of communities participating in the yearly festivities.

National Night Out emphasizes the importance of community engagement and proactive approaches to address safety issues.