The annual National Night Out, designed to raise awareness about fighting crime, is taking on a new twist in Renton this year.

Typically, residents are encouraged to spend the evening outside, their porch lights on, getting to know neighbors. The City of Renton is encouraging those individual events, but police personnel won’t attend as in the past.

The city suggests that residents still hold those get-togethers between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Those individuals events could include barbecues, potlucks or ice-cream socials.

Instead, in cooperation with the Cascade Plaza Shopping Center and its owner, Bruce Anderson, the city is holding a community-wide 25th Annual Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the shopping center in the Benson Hill area.

The evening, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will feature food, games and party games for kids. The center is at 17060 116th Ave. N.E.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Renton Police Department, City of Renton Neighborhood Program and the City of Renton Recreation Division.

Nationwide, the evening will involve more than 11,000 communities for all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. More than 35 million people are expected to participate.

According to organizers, National Night Out is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness

• Generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts

• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships

• Send a message to criminals to let them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

For more information, call 425-430-7521 or visit rentonwa.gov.