CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Law enforcement agencies and first responders around Central Virginia, and across the country, are preparing to welcome the community for National Night Out on Tuesday, a nationwide program of community events organized and run by local agencies.

NNO events have been planned for across Central Virginia, including in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Greene County and other surrounding counties.

Each event will feature a variety food and activities, but officers and department officials say the most valuable part of the event is getting to interact with the community.

“The real purpose is talking to people in the community,” Albemarle County Police Department Spokesperson Logan Bogert told Cville Right Now. “I think those relationships make it easier for residents to feel comfortable sharing their concerns and report suspicious activity.”

Albemarle will be holding its NNO event at the Putt Putt Fun Center from 3:30-6:30 p.m. In addition to mini golf and meeting officers, attendees will be able to explore police vehicles, meet a K-9, participate in a scavenger hunt and enjoy refreshments and prizes. Local students will even receive school supplies as they prepare for the first day of school.

In the city, the Charlottesville Police Department will host its third annual NNO event at the lower level of Washington Park from 5-8 p.m. This is a change from previous years, in which the event was held at IX Art Park.

“This is a larger location, just because it keeps growing every year,” Charlottesville’s Police Chief Michael Kochis told WINA Morning News on Thursday. “More and more people keep coming out, and I think that’s awesome.”

This year’s year event will also feature food, music and games, as well as an appearance from Pegasus, UVA Health’s medical transport helicopter.

Greene County will also be holding its event from 5-8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Walmart in Ruckersville. The event will include a bounce house, barrel train and a number of activities and demonstrations involving animals including reptiles, honeybees and ponies.

The event will also feature performances from Greene’s local clogging dance team. Some local churches will also be handing out school supplies and doing a backpack drive.

Deputy Mallory Lamb of the Greene County Sherriff’s Office told Cville Right Now the event is a great opportunity for kids to meet their first responders and school resource officers before they go back to school.

“The kids get to know us and see that if we come to their house, we’re there to help,” Lamb said. “So, it kind of teaches them from a young age that that’s what we’re there for and they can feel safe talking with us, and we can help them out.”

Other events will be held throughout the region, including in Orange County at the Orange Volunteer Fire Company Fairgrounds from 6-8 p.m., Madison County at Hoover Ridge Park from 5-8 p.m., Louisa County at Court House Sq. from 5-8 p.m. and in Scottsville at the Boys & Girls Club at 250 Page Street from 6-8 p.m.

While NNO provides the community with an opportunity to meet their first responders, the value of those relationships goes both ways.

“On our end, the relationships we build outside of emergencies are just as important as the work we do during them,” Bogert said. “So, when people know their officers and officers know the communities they serve, it’s just better for everyone all-around.”