This story has been updated since it appeared in print to reflect the confirmation of a fireworks display at National Night Out. 

Truesdale will host National Night Out in Warren County on Aug. 5 at Bruer Park. The event, which will run from 5-9 p.m., is part of a national campaign for community building between law enforcement and residents that is held annually on the first Tuesday of August. 

In previous years the event has alternated between municipalities and City Clerk Elsa Smith-Fernandez said she has been hard at work planning for Truesdale to host the event. 

She said they have worked with local organizations to secure donations and attractions for the free event. 

“That’s the goal, it’s just neighborhood camaraderie, police community partnerships, where families can just come out and check out the resources that Warren County has,” said Smith-Fernandez. 

The event will include a variety of attractions for kids and families including a bounce house and the monkey bus from 5-9 p.m., an activity and craft table, the barrel train and a corn box.

Smith-Fernandez also spoke to the Truesdale Board of Aldermen at their July 23 meeting about holding a water balloon toss as a competition for the event as well. Smith-Fernandez also received approval to contract with a face painter for the event at the meeting. 

“It should be super simple, we’ll have the water balloons, everybody finds a partner,” said Smith-Fernandez. “You toss it and if you catch it you take a step back, if you don’t you’re out.”

She said food for the event has been donated by the Warrenton Wal-Mart including hot dogs and chips. Drinks for the event were donated by Refresco and the Knights of Columbus will be bringing snow cones. 

National Night Out will be attended by a number of first responder agencies in the area as well as other community organizations. 

According to the city, the Truesdale Police Department, Warrenton Police Department, Wright City Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Warrenton Fire Protection District, Wright City Fire Protection District, Warren County Ambulance District and Marthasville Community Ambulance District. 

The sheriff’s department will also be participating in a dunk tank booth at the event. 

Other organizations at the event will include groups like the Warren County Health Department, the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, Warren County Pathfinders and Pregnancy Options Center. 

The event will also include a K-9 demonstration at 6:45 p.m. and a performance from singer Ken Domash at 7:30 p.m.

Smith-Fernandez also asked the board how they would feel about the city spending some money on a fireworks display for the event. 

She said she was still working on sourcing the fireworks for the event and had reached out to several local resources that may be able to help the city with funding. 

“If I can pull something together with it at a low cost, would you be willing to grant a variance to discharge fireworks that evening,” said Smith-Fernandez. 

The board voted unanimously to approve a variance for the city to shoot fireworks at the event. 

On July 30, Smith-Fernandez confirmed she was able to source fireworks for the event and they would have a fireworks display at 8:45 p.m. to close out the event. 

“It hasn’t been done, so I think if we could pull it off it would be really cool for Truesdale, because, like I said, this is a county event that we are hosting,” said Smith-Fernandez.