GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - National Night Out 2026 boasted its largest crowd yet despite triple-digit temperatures Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce hosted National Night Out, a nationwide event held the first Tuesday of August each year and designed to develop personal connections between the public and law enforcement officers and agencies.

Officers were on hand to chat with children, participate in activities and interact with the public.

“National Night Out is an amazing way for the kids and people of this community to see the person behind a badge,” said Lauren Harris, a dispatcher for the Gridley Police Department.

Yozajandy Castellanos celebrates the chance to take home a new bike during National Night Out. Bikes were donated by Gridley-area businesses, individuals and organizations.

“It’s a way for community members to connect with first responders, especially to show kids that it’s not something to be afraid of and to help them feel more comfortable asking for help.”

Furthering that connection, Gridley Police Department officers helped with one of the largest draws of the event, the bike giveaway.

The chamber has historically organized the bike giveaway, partnering with local businesses, individuals and organizations for donations. This year, a combination of 75 bikes and scooters had been collected for the giveaway at 7 p.m.

Whether it was the potential to win a bike or the draw of a fun time, Manuel Vierra Park was filled with community members. Hot spots such as the Quota and chamber giveaway tables, free snow cone booths and the Lions Club barbecue stand were congested with visitors.

Vendors offered food, merchandise and other items during National Night Out, including popular NeeDoh sensory toys.

Chamber President Lynne Spencer acknowledged that Gridley’s National Night Out typically has a strong turnout but said she felt this year’s event was even larger.

“We included Biggs this year because they weren’t having one,” Spencer said. “I have been wanting to make this a Biggs-Gridley event anyway.”

Spencer said she was pleased with the combination of forces.

Gridley Parks and Recreation had the splash pad running for children to cool off, an inflatable water slide and Jaime Luevano in the dunk tank for additional entertainment. Numerous sports activities, such as volleyball played with an oversized inflatable ball, allowed families to remain active and were stationed throughout the northern portion of the park.

St. Timothy’s Community Garden provides information about the community garden, the Preserving Food with Friends canning group and other programs during National Night Out.

“We expanded all the way out and used the whole park this year,” Spencer added, referring to the activities that stretched from Washington Street to the far west side of Manuel Vierra Park, ending at the tennis courts.

Gridley Quota Club, a partner of the chamber in the event, brought and distributed 222 backpacks to children, including school supplies. A numbered band system helped streamline the selection process, allowing children to pick their favorite bag from hundreds of backpacks hung on the tennis court fences.

Promptly at 7 p.m., event emcee Todd Kimmelshue was joined by Harris and Gridley Police Officer Garcia to assist in distributing bikes to a crowd of children who anxiously awaited.

Faye Bevan shows off the new bike she won during National Night Out as her siblings look on. Bevan said the basket could hold three 7-Eleven Slurpees.

Faye Bevan was a lucky winner, taking home a brand-new bike with a wicker basket on the front.

“I can fit three 7-Eleven Slurpees in here,” Bevan mused, tapping the basket and checking out the extras on her new ride as her siblings looked on.

“I loved the hot dogs, the churros and the ice cream,” Bevan said after the event. “It was so nice for people to give us backpacks and I love my bike!”

Most children left National Night Out with some sort of school supply and the lucky ones with new wheels, but almost all left happy.

“Being a part of National Night Out this year was something special,” Harris said on behalf of the Gridley Police Department. “Gridley is an amazing community, with people that show up in many different ways, which was shown at NNO.”

Vivian Mattos, left, and Amelia Mattos get hot dogs from the Live Oak Lions during National Night Out.