National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 7, with hundreds of streets throughout the city closed to traffic so neighbors can party

Seattle will join cities across the country on Tuesday, Aug. 7, for the annual national Night Out, which brings neighbors together with the aim of reducing crime.

You can sign up to close off your street so neighbors can have a block party, barbecue, kids can ride bikes in the street, bands can play, and people can get to know each other and talk about crime prevention on your street.

Last year, Seattle registered more than 1,300 Night Out events.

See the Night Out website for signs you can print out to close off your block. Recycling bins and garbage cans are handy tools to block off the street.

As always, this means that many non-arterial streets will be closed to traffic (although they have to be able to quickly provide access for emergency vehicles). So if you’re driving around dinner time and into the evening, be aware that you may have to take a round-about way.