League City neighborhoods have until Friday, Sept. 25, to sign up for this year's National Night Out, and the police department says it will try to stop by every registered location on the night of the event.

The annual gathering is set for Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. citywide. HOAs, neighborhood watch groups and other neighborhood organizations can register now through the city's National Night Out page.

Registration opened Monday, Aug. 3, and closes Sept. 25, giving organizers about eight weeks to rally their blocks.

Police, fire crews will visit registered neighborhoods

Both the League City Police Department and the League City Fire Department plan to fan out across the city on Oct. 6, stopping at registered locations so residents can meet officers and firefighters in an informal, block-party setting. The national program encourages cookouts, porch gatherings and outdoor meetups where neighbors and first responders talk face to face.

The goal is straightforward: build relationships between residents and the officers who patrol their streets, and strengthen the kind of neighborhood camaraderie that makes blocks safer. The city's civic alert announcing the event said first responders are looking forward to spending the evening in the community.

Why October, not August

Most of the country holds National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August. Texas communities shifted theirs to the first Tuesday in October to avoid summer heat. The program dates back to 1984 and is administered nationally by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization.

How to register

Neighborhoods can sign up at leaguecitytx.gov/616/National-Night-Out. The deadline is Friday, Sept. 25, and the event runs 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The League City Police Department will attempt to visit all registered locations that night.