Dozens of communities throughout Suffolk are planning activities for National Night Out, and you can join the celebration in two weeks.

The 30th annual event is planned for Aug. 6. Encouraging partnerships between communities and law enforcement, the event is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch and locally by the Suffolk Police Department.

“Neighborhoods and businesses throughout Suffolk will join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the 30th annual National Night Out crime, drug and gang prevention event,” city spokeswoman and National Night Out coordinator Diana Klink said.

The event involves more than 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. More than 45 million people are expected to participate this year.

Neighborhoods plan cookouts, ice cream socials, children’s games, parades and other activities to get folks outside. Parties are visited by a caravan of elected officials and public safety officers.

Suffolk hopes to pull down first-place honors again this year. Awards are given by population categories based on a video and notebook of materials submitted by participating localities.

“Thanks to the hard work of a number of communities, civic leagues, businesses and churches last year, Suffolk’s 2012 National Night Out received the highest honors from NATW for any city in the state of Virginia, and we were the only city in Hampton Roads to finish in the Top Five in its population category,” Klink said. “In fact, we continued our award winning tradition and earned our sixth Top-Five finish in a row after national judging. We hope to bring the coveted first-place trophy back to Suffolk, where it belongs.”

For more information about National Night Out in Suffolk or to find the party closest to you, visit www.suffolknno.org or call Klink at 514-4104.

“We hope you’ll join us to let criminals know that Suffolk is truly united and dedicated to building a safer and stronger city,” Klink said.

The Suffolk News-Herald will publish a special section on National Night Out in the coming weeks. Check the paper for more details.