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Most days, we tend to avoid, ignore, or at most, acknowledge our neighbors with a wave or a hello. Tonight is different. It’s the annual “National Night Out” and you’re encouraged to actually say more than two words to the people who live across the street.

This annual gathering, on the first Tuesday of August, started 30 years ago with little more than a campaign to turn on your porch light. It was called “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” sort of a take back the community, crime prevention event. Now, it’s more of a carnival atmosphere in many neighborhoods.

“Streets are blocked off. There are bouncy houses. They do barbecues. They have potlucks,” said Wanda Rochelle, with Safe Streets Pierce County, where about are registered. “There is an event in Parkland, they do ‘Parkland’s Got Talent,’ a take on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ so they do some karaoke and they have a DJ.”

In the Haller Lake community is among dozens that have registered a “Night Out” event.

“We have a barbecue-potluck. We will have some live musicians here, too, games and a parade and that sort of thing, but the big draw is really to get to know your neighbors,” said Marni Wiebe, with Haller Lake United Methodist Church. “We started this last year and the theme is ‘Let loose the creatures of Haller Lake’ and it’s just a little parade of anybody who wants to participate. People can make their own costumes and we have sort of a dragon-figure to lead the parade.”

Besides the parties at the block level, some jurisdictions are sponsoring larger gatherings.

hosts a community event from 5 to 8 p.m. at Willis Tucker Park, in Snohomish.

“This is a way for people to know who lives around them and is part of their community,” said Wiebe.

“We know the best crime deterrent is a neighbor knowing your neighbor,” said Rochelle.

An estimated 37.8 million people in the U.S. and its territories now participate in National Night Out, according to the non-profit National Association of Town Watch.