Swimming, songs launch National Night Out early in Naperville

A beachfront gathering Monday evening in downtown Naperville launched the city's observation of National Night Out one day early with splashes and songs.

Those who brought food donations for Loaves & Fishes Community Services got in free to the Naperville Park District's swimming hole at Centennial Beach, where police officers and residents began to connect during the first of three days of festivities this week.

The crowd was treated to snacks and drinks with tunes provided by 95.9-FM The River as residents readied themselves for 50 neighborhood gatherings during the city's 22nd annual National Night Out on Tuesday.

The idea, observed the first Tuesday in August across the country, promotes crime prevention and drug prevention by letting neighbors get to know one another and the first responders who protect them.

The 50 subdivisions joining in Tuesday night in Naperville is a record number since the city began participating.

Other celebrations set to take place Tuesday evening across DuPage County include a pizza bake-off and craft fair in Addison; a burger cook-off between the Oak Brook and Hinsdale police departments in Oak Brook; and Night Out activities in Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights, Itasca, Lisle, Warrenville, West Chicago and Wood Dale.

Naperville's third Night Out occasion comes Sunday with an emergency vehicle show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday on Jackson Avenue between Eagle and Main streets.