This year's National Night Out celebrations in the South Tampa area should be a little cooler, and maybe a little dryer.

The annual nationwide crime and drug prevention event is normally held in August, but this year's local observance has been moved to Oct. 2.

Lisa Timmer, neighborhood affairs liaison for the Tampa Police Department's District 2, said she requested the date change with National Night Out organizers after hearing citizens' complaints about the hot, rainy weather in August. Texas moved its National Night Out events to October, and Temple Terrace made a similar move last year for the same reason.

"We sincerely hope this date change will now encourage more leaders and communities to organize and participate in this positive annual police and community event," Timmer said in an email.

Last year's National Night Out campaign, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide, according to the event website. In all, more than 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2012.

Last year's South Tampa event was held on Davis Islands, where police treated citizens to a tour of a SWAT team tank and a bike demonstration. Citizens can interact with officers, ask questions and usually celebrate with participating businesses.

For more information on National Night Out, visit the National Night Out website.

Are you putting on a local National Night Out event? Be sure to add it to the South Tampa Patch events calendar!