Longwood Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic late Tuesday evening. A fire truck was parked in the middle of the road, and children stood in line to take a seat inside as volunteers provided a hands-on tour.

Tents on a grassy area sheltered a line of tantalizing food in the sticky summer heat.

Freshly cooked fish was waiting.

This was but one stop on a whirlwind tour of community events in town that were part of the National Night Out experience.

The event was designed to

heighten crime- and drug–prevention awareness, develop and strengthen partnerships between police and residents, and generate support for anti-crime programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Crime Solvers and Business Watch.

Groups were also there handing out school supplies for children, Farmville police officers provided junior police badge stickers for children, and McGruff the crime dog danced and greeted children.

“I thought it was wonderful,” Farmville Police Chief Curtis Davis said. “It was great to see everyone together. And … for me, that night, National Night Out, is sort of like the cornerstone for what we want to see happening on a daily basis and year round — and that’s the officers and the community getting together, doing things together, working together and partnering…to make it a better community. And, so I think that’s sort of a celebration of that.”

The work doesn’t end and start again at next year’s event, he said. Every day until the next event, he adds, they need “to find cause to be able to celebrate it and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

Councilman Donald Hunter coordinated the Longwood Avenue event with contributions from businesses.

Such events help the community get to know the police officers by name and help children connect with emergency services workers.

“It seems to work well,” said Hunter, whose district includes the Longwood Avenue site. “Having the kids in the fire truck, instead of them being scared to hear the alarm, they know they’re going to help people.”

Other events were held at Parkview Gardens, Race Street Baptist Church, Belmont Circle, the 1200 block of Fourth Avenue, Sunchase Pool, and earlier ice cream get-togethers on Cedar and Doswell streets.

Among those making multiple stops were Davis, Town Manager Gerald Spates, Mayor David Whitus and representatives from the local probation and parole office.