Thursday, October 1, 2026
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79 ° Clear
Save the date and plan to enjoy a special family-friendly evening (and possibly dunk a cop!) at Lower Southampton Township’s annual National Night Out on Aug. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m.
This annual free community event is hosted by the township’s police department and includes local firefighters and emergency first responders who join township residents, businesses and visitors to promote positive community relations.
“It's just a great night to connect with the community and have the community connect with us in a fun and easygoing environment,” explained Corporal Stephanie Miller, the event coordinator and Lower Southampton Township police officer.
“We always have three rentals that we use for the event. We have a dunk tank that one very lucky officer gets to go into. We have an inflatable basketball court and a moon bounce so we'll have those set up in the field. It's important to have things that keep the kids interested and let them have fun,” she said.
National Night Out is a celebration held across the United States and its territories every August to promote community partnerships with police and first responders and build camaraderie at the grassroots level. Thousands of cities, suburbs and towns nationwide celebrate in many ways, with block parties, festivals, barbecues, parades and much more.
In Lower Southampton Township, the baseball field at the township building on 1500 Desire Avenue in Feasterville transforms into a fun-filled place for the community to meet police and first responders and enjoy the many aspects that businesses and the event’s sponsors have to offer, including raffles, giveaways, games, food, goodie bags, live music and entertainment. Kids and families get to explore fire trucks, police and emergency vehicle displays, an ambulance and special apparatus needed for first responders. This is the third year the township has participated in National Night Out.
Miller said that in the past, the police department had often participated in smaller community-based events such as Coffee with a Cop.
“Our chief had heard that other places were doing National Night Out, so we decided to do it too and it has grown and become very successful,” she added. “Businesses set up tables and promote their business with giveaway items, merchandise and coupons while making connections and getting their name out there. Parents and children intermingle with the police, fire departments and emergency services.”
In addition to Lower Southampton Township Police Department, several emergency response teams participate, including Feasterville Fire Company, Lower Southampton Fire Department, Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad, The Bucks County Fire Marshal Department and the Bucks County Youth Center Fire Program.
“The youth fire program is a new addition to the event this year. It is designed to help at-risk kids who were involved with fire-related crimes. The program teaches them positive ways to get back on the right track,” Miller noted. “We also have a canine demonstration. We will do two different demonstrations with the dog and the dog’s handler.”
There is always plenty of free food and refreshments and swag bags at National Night Out, too.
“We have our police chief always working the grill and we cook hot dogs and give out snacks, chips, pretzels, water and Gatorade. We put together over 200 drawstring backpacks at our swag table. They have an outline of our badge on it with ‘I support Lower Southampton Police’ printed on it. We have bags geared for younger kids and some for older kids, for all different ages,” she said.
The bags are filled with activity books, emergency preparedness books for the older kids and their parents, crayons, bubbles, stickers, magnets, a water bottle, rubber bracelets and more.
“This is a safe environment for everyone to get along and relax and strengthen the bonds of the community,” Miller finished.
To learn more about National Night Out in Lower Southampton Township, email smiller@lstwp.org or visit lowersouthamptontownship.org.
