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Turlock gears up for National Night Out
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Turlock Police Officer Chuck Nwando pets Wally the Gator as 7-year-old Levi Gomez (blue shirt) looks on at the 2025 National Night Out event at Columbia Park (JOE CORTEZ/The Journal).

Neighborhoods across Turlock will be hosting block parties on Tuesday, as the city prepares for the 2026 National Night Out program.

National Night Out originally began in 1984 and involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. Today, there are 17,000 participating communities across all 50 states, with Turlock joining in 2009. Aside from improving community and officer relations, National Night Out aims to promote a myriad of crime prevention efforts.

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Turlock firefighters make a stop at one of the National Night Out neighborhood events in 2025 (Photo courtesy of TFD).

The City of Turlock’s 2026 National Night Out event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at Columbia Park, 595 High St. The city’s event will feature free food, bounce houses, activities, free recreational swim from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Columbia Pool, music, visits from the Turlock Police and Fire departments and the return of Cruzin’ Critters. According to recreation superintendent Juan Vargas, there are 19 confirmed community-based groups and organizations who will have booths set up at the event.

“We want to be out there with the community and providing these opportunities so that they can see that local government and the community, we’re one,” said Vargas.

This year, there are 27 registered block parties throughout the city of Turlock, according to Turlock Police crime prevention specialist Melanie Suffecool. The Turlock Police Department and partnering first responders — Turlock Fire, AMR, Stanislaus County probation and CHP — will visit block parties across the city.

“We work to build positive relationships between first responders and community members of all ages. We also focus on providing neighborhood watch and crime prevention tips and strategies to protect community members and keep Turlock safe,” said Suffecool.

The Turlock City Council approved a proclamation during Tuesday’s meeting, endorsing the city’s work in co-hosting this year’s festivities alongside the National Association of Town Watch.

“The 43rd annual National Night Out provides a unique opportunity for the City of Turlock to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country in promoting cooperative police- community crime prevention efforts,” reads the proclamation.

For questions about this year’s National Night Out, community members are encouraged to contact the Turlock Police Department at (209) 668-5550.