The Cornelius Police and the Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department (PARC) are hosting “National Night Out” this evening at Smithville Community Park. The event, which runs from 6 pm to 8 pm, is free. The focus is on building and maintaining relations between the police and the community.

The annual event has fun for all ages with food sponsored by Mammoth Machine and Design, a Dunkin Donuts Dunk-a-Cop tank, a bounce slide sponsored by Dobi Financial, the Home Depot Kids Workshop and entertainment by School of Rock Cornelius. Big Brothers Big Sisters will have a booth as well as

Cornelius Police vehicles, as well as a Cornelius Fire Department truck will be on site for kids to explore. Community organizations like Smithville Community Coalition, Cornelius Library, YMCA Lake Norman, North Meck Crimestoppers, TopDeck Foundation, Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department will be on hand, too.

Cornelius Police will also be collecting school supplies for the annual Pack the Patrol Car Event during National Night Out.  Items collected will be distributed to students at Cornelius Elementary, J.V. Washam Elementary, Bailey Middle and W.A Hough High School.  Recommended supplies include paper, pencils, pens, highlighters, notebooks, binders, index cards, tissues, crayons, markers, colored pencils and backpacks.

Following National Night Out, the Cornelius PARC Department will show “Moana!” under the stars. The movie will begin at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.) Bring lawn chairs and blankets.