Little Rock, Arkansas – Residents across Little Rock will have several opportunities to meet their neighbors, connect with police officers and learn more about city services when National Night Out returns on Oct. 6.
City officials are encouraging residents to participate in the 2026 events, which will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at multiple locations around Little Rock.
Four city-sponsored gatherings are planned this year. They will be held at West Central Community Center, MacArthur Park, Southwest Community Center and War Memorial Stadium.
Each location will feature activities designed to bring residents together in a relaxed community setting. Food, games and prize giveaways will be available, giving families and neighbors a chance to spend the evening together while also meeting people who serve their communities.
A major part of National Night Out will be interaction between residents and members of the Little Rock Police Department. People attending the events will be able to meet police officers as well as staff from other city departments.
Community organizations will also participate.
Representatives will provide information about services and programs available to Little Rock residents, along with opportunities for people who want to remain involved in their neighborhoods throughout the year.
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City officials said National Night Out is an opportunity to build stronger connections between neighbors. Those relationships, in turn, can help strengthen communities and encourage residents to become more engaged with what is happening around them.
The four main locations will not be the only places holding activities on Oct. 6.
Little Rock is also working with neighborhood groups that plan to organize their own National Night Out celebrations throughout the city. Neighborhood associations holding events away from the four city-sponsored sites are encouraged to notify the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs.
Organizers can contact the department at 501-371-6825. Providing that information will give city representatives an opportunity to take part in neighborhood celebrations as well.
The annual event is organized by the Little Rock Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs together with the Little Rock Police Department.
National Night Out is part of a broader city effort to strengthen relationships between residents and law enforcement while also promoting neighborhood safety.
Rather than focusing only on a single evening, the event also gives residents information about ways they can continue participating in community programs after National Night Out ends.
With gatherings spread across Little Rock, residents can choose from one of the four city-sponsored locations or participate in an event organized closer to home by their neighborhood association.
Activities at the main locations are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. on Oct. 6.
