News from the City of Berkeley

Register your neighborhood event for National Night Out

Consider teaming up with your neighbors to plan your own neighborhood gathering. Review the map for already-registered August 1 events near you.

Help strengthen our community by organizing or joining your neighborhood’s National Night Out block party Tuesday, August 1.

By organizing your own gathering, you’d be part of a citywide evening of block parties, cookouts, and ice cream socials. You can also choose to attend one that’s already registered. Either way, come out and get to know one another.

Say hello to police officers, firefighters, paramedics, city staff and elected officials as they visit events throughout the city. 

Register your event by July 28

To host a National Night Out party in your neighborhood, register your event online. With our new sign-up form, you can see all registered events in real time.

Plan your gathering for anytime between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm on Tuesday, August 1. Don't worry about the size of the event—whether it's just a few neighbors or 100 people or more, every gathering is welcome! It could be a potluck, cookout, or simply a casual meet and greet.

When registering, you can request the presence of City staff, Police, Fire, and Emergency Operations. We'll do our best to accommodate your request if possible.

About National Night Out

National Night Out is a nationwide effort to make communities safer by building and strengthening relationships among neighbors. Strong neighborhoods help us become more resilient and improve our ability to recover after a disaster.

National Night Out gatherings are one of many City efforts supporting our Strategic Plan goal to create a resilient, safe, connected, and prepared city. Berkeley's National Night Out program is organized by the Berkeley Police Department’s Community Services Bureau.

Join or create an event to support a nationwide effort to strengthen relationships with neighbors and make communities safer.

Links

- National Night Out event registration

- 2021 National Night Out Video

Berkeley poets: apply to become next Poet Laureate

Poets, spoken word artists, and other literary artists living in Berkeley can apply to be Berkeley’s Poet Laureate, a champion of the City’s literary traditions and communities.

Berkeley residents' applications would be considered through a group review and evaluation process for the honorary position, which comes with a $10,000 honorarium.

The City’s Civic Arts Program, in partnership with the Berkeley Public Library, is seeking an experienced poet with deep ties to the city to serve in the position.

A two-step application process will begin with an online application, followed by an interview process for the second round.

The purpose of the Poet Laureate program is to:

- champion Berkeley’s rich poetry, spoken word, and literary arts communities

- honor a Berkeley poet to serve as a creative ambassador of the city

- serve as an aesthetic voice and collaborator with the broader arts community

- provide mentorship to develop literary artists

- continue Berkeley’s historic tradition of free speech

Complete the online application to be the Poet Laureate by 11:59pm on September 1, 2023.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Summer music concerts in Berkeley parks: Reggae, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Kids Music, and more

Come out to any in a series of music concerts this summer that pair different music genres with activities for a variety of ages while being set in our beloved parks.

Saturday, July 22, 2–5pm: Reggae with Rankin Scroo and King Kosh at Willard Park

Saturday, July 29, 3–5pm: Kids Day with Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies at San Pablo Park

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

More news from the City of Berkeley

Reduce lithium-ion battery fire risk for e-skateboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes, June 9, 2023

Temporary eviction protections for renters May through August 2023, May 17, 2023

Protect your home by using services to remove vegetation, May 8, 2023