Third annual Mon Valley Night Out set for Aug. 6

Valley residents can meet police officers, firefighters and EMTs from throughout the area.

Rostraver Township police will host the third annual Mon Valley Night Out Aug. 6 at the DiVirgilio Recreational Complex.

The event, which is being held in partnership with the Westmoreland County Drug and Alcohol Commission and the Mon Valley Opioid Coalition, will be an opportunity for local residents to meet their local police officers, firefighters and EMTs.

“It’s just a great night to come out and enjoy the community,” Rostraver Police Chief Scott Sokol said. “There’s a lot of first responders, you see a lot of specialty equipment, gives a chance for kids to just come out and walk around, meet and greet people. See all the policemen, firemen and EMTs and just have positive overall experiences with everyone.”

The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. and will end with a fireworks display.

There will be food trucks, raffle baskets, children’s prizes and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Money made from the raffle baskets will go towards the Santa Cop Program that helps students in the Belle Vernon Area School District.

Mon Valley Night Out started in 2022 and has become an annual event for Rostraver Township police, especially after they received good turnout in the first year.

“We had a lot of participation from all the emergency services within the Mon Valley, Charleroi, Monessen, Donora, Rostraver, Monongahela, just to name a few,” Sokol said. “And it was a big hit, so we thought we would do it again.”

Sokol said it’s been a great way for the community to get to know their local responders. He encourages everyone to come out, especially area children.

“The kids seem to love seeing all the specialized equipment and again, it’s about the children having positive interaction with all the emergency responders in a good way,” he said.

Sokol added that people who come to the event can look forward to seeing the Pennsylvania State Police motorcycle unit and horses, along with multiple helicopters. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will have its bear trap on display.

The event will include free food such as hot dogs, nachos, drinks and ice cream. Food trucks will also be on hand.

Sokol says they hope to have an activity play zone for the kids and a face painting artist as well.