Riverhead National Night Out to unite community outside Town Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 4

Riverhead officials will be joined by McGruff the Crime Dog on Tuesday for the police department’s 43rd annual National Night Out celebration.

The popular event, held across communities nationwide on the first Tuesday of August, will be held at Town Hall this year because of the ongoing construction of Town Square. Riverhead’s NNO runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at 4 W. Second St.

The family-friendly night gives residents a chance to meet Riverhead’s Finest and check out plenty of cool police equipment upclose — including motorcycles, bikes, ATVs and a police boat — as well as Command Post, SWAT and dive equipment.

There are also a variety of games, giveaway prizes, a dunk-tank and a free barbecue and ice cream.

“We look forward to welcoming the Riverhead community to see what their police department has to offer, but more importantly for them to interact with our officers on a different level,” said John Morris, vice president of the Riverhead PBA. “As police officers, many times we have to meet people on some of their worst days — National Night Out gives us an opportunity to have conversations and speak to our residents on a more personal level.”

Ahead of the event, the Riverhead Town Board will hand out awards for the 2026 National Night Out poster contest winners at its 2 p.m. meeting.

The Southold Police Department hosts its National Night Out event at Tasker Park in Peconic, from 5 to 8 p.m.