The Federal Way Police Department and South King Fire firefighters gathered throughout the Federal Way community Aug. 5 to celebrate the 2025 National Night Out.

It is an annual community-building event celebrated across the United States, put together through the police department. It is held every year on the first Tuesday of August.

Tiffany Clemmings is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Federal Way Police Department. She said this is a great opportunity to get to know officers on a personal level.

“I can say that it’s my favorite event and it’s usually the officers’ favorite event too, because it’s just a fun time,” said Clemmings. “Just the chance to talk and see police in a not as stressful situation, and folks are just able to see the police kind of like, as humans, ask them things and talk to them … just have them be more attainable and have them in their literal backyard.”

Marlbrook community hosted a National Night Out celebration Aug. 5.

This year, about 24 officers visited 29 registered neighbors around the Federal Way area, with each neighborhood hosting their own National Night Out party.

“We also have the mayor’s office going out as well,” said Clemmings. “City council is going out, the city’s emergency management team and their management team are going out.”

Some of the neighborhoods included Park-16, Steel Lake Park, Evergreen Estates, Mirror Lake Community and more. Depending on the neighborhood, there are different activities to engage with the people in the area.

“Most of them are like barbecues, potlucks … I think some even have pizza parties, an ice cream social, and even a taco truck,” said Clemmings. “One place will have games. We even have a senior living community that signed up too. So, they have a DJ … it’s very unique to whatever the neighborhood prefers or wants to do.”

Maddyson Arnone is a firefighter at the South King Fire. Arnone visited the Laurelwood Gardens Apartments along with two other firefighters. She said her favorite thing about this annual event is seeing the kids.

Folks at the Laurelwood Garden Apartments check out a South King Fire truck during National Night Out festivities.

“We ran out of helmets already in the first ten minutes,” said Arnone. “Just seeing all the kids and their families on the slip and slide, in the bouncy house, and getting to know them more on a first-name basis, gives us a breath of fresh air.”

Laurelwood Garden Apartments included a photo area where families can take pictures with a backdrop, sections where kids can blow bubbles, and games such as horseshoes in the grass area. The apartment managers also set up a snack area with chips and baked goods for their residents.

Federal Way City Councilmember Jack Walsh was also seen walking around and speaking with residents at the apartment complex.

Carole Lanz is a resident at the Village Green assistant living homes, where this event included a live performance and dinner from volunteers. Lanz said she enjoys this event every year and appreciates the officers coming and speaking with her neighbors.

“This is my second one because we’re brand new here, and I love it because our son is a police officer in Seattle, so it’s near and dear to my heart,” said Lanz. “We talked to one policeman who said he’s been a policeman for 31 years and he still keeps working because he loves it.”

Lemonade was served at the Marlbrook community during National Night Out.

Toward the end of the day, one of the few neighborhoods closing out the community-building campaign was the Marlbrook community in the cul de sac near Redondo Beach. This celebration included a taco truck and a lemonade stand called “Squatch Lemonade.” Jessica Wade-Chappell is the coordinator of the National Night Out in her community. She said her favorite thing about putting this event together each year is meeting new people.

“I think it’s important for safety and security,” said Wade-Chappell. “The continuity between us and the city officials and the police department is strong, and it’s important. We feel like they have our back … just to have a connection and a bond, that’s kind of priceless because it equates to safety.”

Jessica Ward is also a part of the coordinating team and a resident in the Marlbrook community. She and Wade-Chappell have been hosting this event for 10 years. Ward said this helps everyone in the neighborhood look out for each other.

“Oh, we love just getting to know and visit with all of our neighbors and the kids in the neighborhood,” said Ward. “Some of them recognize it as a holiday, and it’s a countdown event … I think it makes a really big difference, especially for the kids, to see those encounters with law enforcement and fire departments when it’s not an emergency. So that when there is one, if they see a familiar face, it makes a real emergency far less frightening for them.”

For more than 30 years, police departments across the United States have been hosting the campaign event. According to the Federal Way Police Department, the furthest documentation of their involvement in the National Night Out is in 2015.

Residents at Village Green chat with each other and South King Fire’s Brad Chaney. Photos by Mariah Hill/For the Mirror

Residents at Village Green during National Night Out. Photo by Mariah Hill/For the Mirror