Several North County communities will be taking a stand against crime with National Night Out events Tuesday.
The 26th annual National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and is celebrated in more than 15,000 communities nationwide, according to the organization's Web site.
The idea is to strengthen community-police partnerships and neighborhood spirit, while showing criminals that residents are organized against them.
Event organizers encourage people to leave their porch lights on and come out for one of the many community events taking place Tuesday.
Those events include:
Escondido: Escondido Police Station, 700 W. Grand Ave., 5:30 to 8 p.m. Exhibits and demonstrations include police dogs, Tasers, the police crime lab and SWAT team. 760-839-4400.
Oceanside: Melba Bishop Recreation Center, 5309 N. River Road, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hot dogs, jumpee, face painting, military police dog and child fingerprinting. 760-435-5550.
Joe Balderrama Recreation Center, 709 San Diego St., 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with "Kung Fu Panda" movie screening beginning at 7:45 p.m. Snacks for sale, face painting and child fingerprinting. 760-435-5530.
Mottino Family YMCA, 4701 Mesa Drive, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oceanside police dog, Military police, police car, child fingerprinting and jumpee. 760-758-0808.
All-city Christian prayer walk: Event culminates with Christian prayer at Oceanside Amphitheatre, 200 N. The Strand, 7 to 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to wear white and walk to event with church groups. Sheldon Brown, sheldonffc@gmail .com.
Vista: Seventh annual Walk Against Crime, South Indiana and Main streets. Registration from 5 to 5:45 p.m., with walk at 6 p.m. Live music and information booths. 760-726-1340, ext. 1483.
San Marcos: Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, 1 Positive Place, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Call Melissa at 760-471-2490, ext. 308 for required pre-registration. Free hot dogs, child fingerprinting, talking patrol car, fire engine and neighborhood watch information.
San Elijo Hills Park, 1105 Elfin Forest Road, 5 to 7 p.m. Free hot dogs, child fingerprinting, talking patrol car, fire engine display and neighborhood watch information. 760-798-1784.
