KING CITY — Salinas Valley Fairgrounds was filled with families, first responders and community organizations last Tuesday evening as the King City Police Department hosted National Night Out 2026, an evening of food, activities and community connection.
The event, held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Expo Building, brought together residents and representatives from the King City police and fire departments, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and other local organizations.
This year’s event was the first National Night Out hosted at the fairgrounds and featured a variety of activities for families, including games, face painting, pie-eating contests, raffle prizes and Great America ticket giveaways.
In a post-event statement, the King City Police Department thanked the community and the many organizations, businesses and volunteers who helped make the event possible.
“A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and supported us! We are so grateful to our community, partners, volunteers, agencies, and everyone who helped make our first National Night Out at the Fairgrounds such a memorable event,” the department said.
A popular attraction was the Dunk Tank, with all proceeds benefiting Hands That Help SoMoCo, an all-volunteer-driven organization serving communities from Gonzales to Bradley that supports local residents experiencing serious hardship or irreplaceable loss.
“Your willingness to get in the tank and take a splash for a great cause helped make it so much fun,” the department said of the Dunk Tank participants. “All proceeds from the Dunk Tank will benefit Hands That Help.”
King City Fire Department kept attendees fed throughout the evening, grilling and preparing hot dogs for the crowd. The police department also recognized Grocery Outlet for donating cases of water, while Mike Garcia of KWAV 96.9 served as master of ceremonies.
“And honestly… the list could go on and on! There were so many people, organizations, businesses, and volunteers who played a part in making National Night Out such a success,” police said.
The department added that it looks forward to bringing the community together again next year.
“From all of us at the King City Police Department, THANK YOU!” police said. “We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing everyone again next year!”
