National Night Out 2026

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – National Night Out is a coast-to-coast campaign that is held every first Tuesday in August to strengthen the relationship between communities and their local law enforcement agencies.

A collaboration between the Zanesville Police Department and the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office was formed last year, as they partnered with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to display their vehicles featuring Zanesville’s brand-new pursuit car along with a K-9 Unit and drone demonstrations from the Sheriff’s Office. 

“We’re partnering with the Zanesville Police Department, who’s kind of spearheading this event. Law Enforcement National Night Out is kind of celebrated across the United States. It’s a community engagement type program and event. It’s just a situation where law enforcement will be out here interacting with the public and just trying to… you know continue our relationship with the public and continue that community engagement,” Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said.

Muskingum County’s second annual National Night Out will be serving plenty of hot dogs and Conn’s Potato Chips as they look to present an encouraging and uplifting experience with the area’s youth.

“We’re doing a Stuff the Cruiser event. So one of our patrolmen will have an empty patrol car and what we’re asking community members to do is just bring in school supplies. And the attempt is to stuff the cruiser, fill it and those will be donated to the Zane Grey Elementary,” Zanesville Police Chief Scott Comstock said.

Due to the renovations at Secrest Auditorium, this year’s event will be held between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 4th, at Kidsville, inside Riverside Park, located off State Route 666 in Zanesville. Further details can be found by visiting the Zanesville Police Department’s Facebook page.