The annual National Night Out celebration is only three weeks away, and Suffolk is looking for a three-peat in national titles for the event.

“National Night Out is a wonderful opportunity for communities to get involved and to take an active role in their communities and in crime prevention efforts,” local coordinator Diana Klink said. “Suffolk has placed first in the nation the past two years, which is evidence of the involvement and the strong feelings citizens have about the event.”

National Night Out will be held on Aug. 3 this year, with a kick-off event beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the King’s Fork Public Safety Center on Kings Fork Road. Following the opening ceremonies, events to be held in communities around the city include parades, ice cream socials, children’s activities and more.

So far, 56 communities and businesses have registered to be included in the tour of law enforcement officials and judges. Suffolk has placed first in its population category the last two years, as judged by a national committee based on a video and scrapbook submitted by each community.

The fun isn’t confined to just that night, though. On Aug. 1, National Night Out Sunday and National Kids’ Day will be celebrated.

National Night Out Sunday encourages residents to pray for the city, elected officials and law enforcement officers.

“That’s when we ask for our churches and congregations citywide to pray for our law enforcement officers who protect us,” Klink said.

Church leaders will encourage their congregants to get involved in the celebration. In addition, churchgoers will be able to anonymously report law enforcement concerns within their community by filling out a postcard, which will be available at their church that Sunday, and dropping it in the offertory basket.

Later that day, from 2 to 5 p.m., National Kids’ Day will be celebrated at Constant’s Wharf Park. Public safety partners will have various activities at the event, which is put on by Suffolk Parks and Recreation.

The police department will have police dog, SWAT team and dive team demonstrations. The fire department will conduct child safety seat inspections and allow children to tour the “Smoke House,” a specially-made trailer that teaches children personal safety and fire safety. The sheriff’s department will be fingerprinting children, and the commonwealth’s attorney’s office also will be on hand to pass out information. National Night Out personnel also will be available to direct people to the nearest party in their community.

“It’s definitely a fun event for the entire family,” Klink said.

A list of confirmed participating communities and businesses follows. Call 514-4104 or visit www.suffolknno.org for more information on how to officially register or find the nearest party.

Applewood Farms Homeowners Association

BelleHarbour Neighborhood Watch

Berkshire Meadows Homeowners Association

Bethlehem Ruritan Club, 140 Manning Road — includes communities of Barrett Acres, Bethlehem Court, Brewers Meadow, Christina Landing, Cove Point, Hunt Club Point, Kilby Shores, Manning Bridge Road, Maple Hill, Oak Lake at Holy Neck, Oak Ridge, Pine Aire, Reids Crossing, Robin Lane, Springfield Homeowners Association

Bettie Davis Village

Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Virginia

Brittany Farms

Burbage Grant Neighborhood Watch

Burnett’s Mill

Chick-fil-A

Commons at Centerbrooke

Downtown Business Association/Fairgrounds Promotion Committee

Duke Automotive

East End Baptist Church

East Suffolk Gardens Civic League

Firehouse Subs

Greater Oakland and Chuckatuck Civic League

Hall Place Community Association

Hobson Civic League

Holland Ruritan Club/Holland community

Hollywood/Jericho Civic League

Huntersville

Kingsboro Civic League

Kings Fork Farm

Lake Kennedy Civic League

Mike Duman Auto Sales

Nansemond Square Apartments

Olde Town Civic League

Pughsville-Suffolk Civic League

River Point

Saratoga/Philadelphia Civic League

Suffolk Inner-City Athletic Association

SRHA (all communities meeting at 530 E. Pinner St.)

Suffolk Pentecostal Holiness Church

West End Civic League

Westside Civic League (Boston and Williamstown)

Whaleyville Ruritan Club

Wilroy Baptist Church, 306 Williams Road — includes communities of Nansemond Gardens and Willowbrooke

Wilson Pines Apartments

Woodlake Community