National Night Out is Tuesday on Main Street

By Richelle Bailey
Published: July 31, 2010

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Where can you find inflatables, a waterslide, lots of emergency vehicles, face painting, live music and food all in one evening at no charge? Downtown Marion, of course.

Join Marion police officers Tuesday for the annual National Night Out celebration.

There will be activities for both kids and adults. In addition to what’s mentioned above, there will be a patrol car competition, Lowe’s Build-A-Car Kits and hot dogs, drinks and Sno Cones. Representatives of the National Guard, Marine Corps., Girl Scouts and Red Cross will be present.

Doug Herbert of Huntersville will bring the message of his nonprofit organization, BRAKES (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), to the event. The mission of BRAKES is to prevent injuries and save lives by training and educating teenagers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving. Herbert lost two sons, 17 and 12, in a fatal crash in January 2008.

In addition, Charlotte-based band Too Much Sylvia (2MS) will have people dancing in the streets to their ‘60s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s, ‘90’s and current tunes.

“By NOT working from a ‘set list,’ 2MS has the ability to ‘feel the mood,’ pace the song selection and provoke audience interaction,” reads the group’s website.

The best news of all in this bad economy: Everything is free!

“National Night Out is geared toward kids,” Cpl. Kellie Duncan of the Marion Police Department, who organizes the event, stated in a previous interview. “They get to see us in a different light and hopefully feel more comfortable around us. They see us in a more personal environment instead of just enforcing the law.”

The local event has become a summer staple for McDowell folks, drawing in hundreds of people each year.

It is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

“Our goal is to develop a better relationship between the community and police,” Duncan previously stated. “If they see us in a personal manner, they are more apt to help us with crimes.”

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. on Main Street.

Main Street will be blocked from Fort to West Henderson streets starting at 5 p.m.