LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — The Martin Luther King Jr. Center will turn into a neighborhood block party Tuesday evening as Lafayette celebrates National Night Out, a long-running nationwide effort to bring families and law enforcement together.

The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the MLK Center on Cora Street. The event will feature food, music and children’s activities aimed at building stronger ties between police and the community.

“On Tuesday, Oct.7, we will be hosting National Night Out at the MLK Center,” said Sergeant Robin Green, the Public Information Officer for the Lafayette Police Department.

Now in year 42, National Night Out connects neighborhoods across the country through local block parties and safety events. Green says the Lafayette celebration will include entertainment, activities for children, and informational booths from community and safety organizations.

“It’s all about hosting a block party for the neighborhood to come out and do some rapport building with law enforcement,” Green said. “We’ll have lots of food, entertainment and activities for the kids.”

After being put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has returned to the MLK Center as part of a rotation that brings National Night Out to different areas of Lafayette Parish.

“National Night Out is to help strengthen the community, make them have more crime awareness, and basically just come out and have a good time,” Green said. “At the same time, it’s about getting to know your local law enforcement agencies.”

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