Residents registered about 20 block parties with the City of Kirkland for National Night Out Against Crime.

First responders from the Kirkland police and fire departments visited these parties from 6-9 p.m. for the 34th annual event Tuesday.

National Night Out is a nationwide campaign aimed at involving communities in crime and drug prevention awareness. Residents are encouraged to get together with neighbors and friends for activities such as cookouts, flashlight walks, community conversations or contests.

“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” according to the National Night Out website. “National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”

Kirkland neighborhood resource officer Deana Lansing said the event is “awesome.”

“I just love going out and interacting with the community, getting them to see police in a positive aspect,” she said. “It’s a great thing for our police departments. It’s a great thing for our community.”

Lansing handed out the list of block parties to about 12 officers in addition to the officers working patrol.

“We just want to make sure we have specific officers designated to these parties,” she said, as you never know what might come up when working patrol.

Residents registered their events with the city by filling out a neighborhood block party permit application; block party fees were waived for the events held Tuesday.

Visit the National Night Out website, natw.org, for history and more information.

Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris speaks to Kirkland residents Linda and Lucille Funk at a community cookout during National Night Out. Megan Campbell, Kirkland Reporter

Linda Funk holds her dog Cyann as she speaks with Kirkland Police Department’s Neighborhood Resource Officer Deana Lansing during National Night Out Tuesday. Megan Campbell/staff photo

Community members gathered for a barbecue in the 13600 block of 116th Avenue Northeast for National Night Out Tuesday. Megan Campbell/staff photo

From left to right: Calvin Pohlman, 5, and sisters Emerson, 2, and Payton, 7, color during a community barbecue on National Night Out in Kirkland Tuesday. Megan Campbell/staff photo

Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris speaks to Cameron Hanson during a community barbecue in the 13600 block of 116th Avenue Northeast during National Night Out Tuesday. Megan Campbell/staff photo

Frank Poulsen, who organized the community barbecue in the 13600 block of 116th Avenue Northeast in Kirkland, grills chicken legs during National Night Out Tuesday. Megan Campbell/staff photo