With a decade of experience under their belts, organizers of Bridgeport’s National Night Out are confident the event is serving its purpose of building good relationships between residents and city law enforcers. Each year, the celebration – which features free food and drinks, giveaways, entertainment and swimming – seems to draw more and more people.

 

The 11^th annual National Night Out will be held 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Bridgeport City Pool and Benedum Civic Center grounds. As always, members of Bridgeport Police, Fire and Emergency Services will be on hand to meet and greet the public and display various equipment – such as the fire department’s new ladder truck – and demonstrations, including one by the city’s new K9 unit.

 

Various city businesses, civic clubs and volunteer organizations will be on hand, offering free hot-dogs, pizza, ice cream and other summertime treats, as well as face painting and games. Bridgeport Pool will be open with free admission and while enjoying the water with friends and family, attendees will be treated to live tunes, courtesy of Shannon Shields Harvey. That arrangement was made at the 2016 event, said Bridgeport Deputy Police Chief Randy Hartley.

 

The daughter of Melinda and the late Dale Shields, longtime director of Bridgeport Public Works, Harvey is a 2001 Bridgeport High School graduate and employee of United Hospital Center, where she works as a nurse. She is also a talented country rock vocalist who performs at local and regional venues and festivals.

 

“She walked into last year’s National Night Out and I told her I had no idea why we had never asked her to play and that if she would be interested, we would love to have her do the entertainment in 2017,” Hartley said. “She said she would love to. Dale had been on my mind and it was kind of like he put her right in front of me.”

 

Harvey - wife to Doug Harvey and mother to 5-year-old Lane - said it's always exciting to play in her hometown and an event such as this is an extra thrill.

 

'I can't help but think of my dad at these moments because I know how proud he would be for me to play for things such as this," she said. 

 

Harvey will be accompanied by her Crimson Reign band members Glen Shaffer, Johnny Stutler and Rick Martin. The band's play list includes country and rock/classic rock; the music of Guns n Roses, Fleetwood Mac, Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Chris Stapleton, Elle King and Maren Morris, among other artists.

 

All entry into National Night Out will be through the gate of Bridgeport Pool. Each attendee will receive a ticket to be entered into a number of prize drawings. They will have the chance to win big box items like TVs, video game systems, bicycles and several other prizes. Sponsoring and hosting the event are Bridgeport Police, Fire and Emergency Services, as well as the City of Bridgeport.

 

Annually, well over 1,000 individuals attend Bridgeport’s National Night Out, always successful because of the many people, groups and businesses who pull together to make it a top-notch event, Hartley said.

 

“Various city departments, including parks and recreation, go out of their way to help pull this all off,” he said.