The Shawangunk PBA and Plattekill Police Department, despite the inclement weather threatening to rain on everyone’s parade, took a risk and hosted their National Night Out celebration on Monday, August 6 in the Hamlet of Wallkill. Fortunately for them, the rain held off long enough for hundreds of residents to enjoy the evening’s festivities.

“We had news that National Night Outs were closing everywhere, and we had to make a tough decision,” said Shawangunk Police Chief Gerald Marlatt. “Ultimately, we invested too much into tonight and we decided to go ahead with it, and it paid off.”

Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., residents gathered in Garrison Park to chow down on food truck delights, get to know their local officers and vendors, enjoy live music, and have fun on the playgrounds. Many attendees tried their luck in raffles and went head-to-head in several competitions, from cornhole tossing and baseball pitching to wing-eating contests and dance-offs.

“It’s awesome, lots of people come out so far,” said Joe Decker, a State Trooper. Decker and his colleagues, George Hill and Joe Steyer, brought a large diving tank to the event that George swam in and taught passersby about the state’s underwater recovery team.

“I think it’s fantastic. The turnout is great and it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet with our police,” said Pastor Cathy Bruce of the Reformed Church of Shawangunk, while munching on a chicken sandwich. “Oh, and the barbeque is fantastic.”

Due to the stormy circumstances, the fireworks display and helicopter landing were canceled, and everyone needed to leave at 8 p.m. once it started raining. But despite the gray skies and looming downpours, the attendees’ spirits shined just as brightly as fireworks during Shwangunk’s National Night Out and everyone was pleased with this year’s celebration.

“It’s a wonderful thing and it’s something we really need: getting the community outside and together,” said Linda Chick, a member of the Wallkill Lions Club, whose members gave out free ice cream treats to passersby.

“It’s been a great turnout and a lot of people who couldn’t go to their community’s National Night Out came down here to celebrate,” Marlatt said.