Free carnival games, a petting zoo and a judged car show are taking over CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park as the Simpsonville Police Department hosts its annual National Night Out from 6 to 8 p.m. The free event draws families, mascots and even a NASCAR driver for an evening built around meeting the city's public safety and public works employees face to face.
According to WYFF, the event is free and open to the public, with children able to enjoy bouncy houses, face painting, carnival games, relays, a petting zoo and giveaways. Greenville Drive mascot Reedy, Sparky the Fire Dog and Hillcrest High School's Rambo are all set to greet families, alongside the police department's own newest addition, Major Fuzz. Local business owners donated to bring Major Fuzz into the force, and the mascot was brought in by the National Child Safety Council, the same station report notes, after having joined the police force this summer.
That timeline lines up with earlier reporting from FOX Carolina, which found that Major Fuzz was acquired in July 2026 through the National Child Safety Council's Safety Pup program specifically to deliver public safety education to children, giving the mascot a role that extends well beyond photo ops at community events.
NASCAR Driver Joins the Car Show Lineup
NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez is scheduled to sign autographs, meet fans and judge the car show, which includes a Volkswagen car club among its entries, per the station's report. Suárez previously presented a custom Daniel's Amigos Award alongside the traditional Best in Show and People's Choice trophies during the car show segment, according to a Facebook post from the Simpsonville Police Department.
Lt. Yojan Barrero said Suárez's visit aligns with Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Hispanic Alliance in Greenville is set to perform at the event. Barrero, who is from Colombia and speaks Spanish on the job, said speaking Spanish helps build trust with residents who do not speak English. The Hispanic Alliance was established in 2010 in Greenville as a non-profit network coordinating education, legal and health resources for Upstate South Carolina's growing Hispanic population, according to the Greenville Journal.
Tug-of-War Rematch and Multi-Agency Displays
National Night Out also includes its annual tug-of-war between police, fire and public works, and the fire department won last year's contest. Lt. Scott Menzies said the police department plans to rebound in this year's rematch. Menzies called the event the department's biggest of the year, one that helps residents meet public safety and public works staff and, he said, helps build a safer community through connection and communication.
Beyond the games and music from DJ Mike G, the event folds in hands-on public safety displays. The 2026 Touch-a-Truck lineup featured vehicles from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, local EMS and military units, according to an event listing on Zeffy. Certified technicians from the Simpsonville Fire Department also provided free child car seat safety installations and inspection checks for attending families, per a Facebook post detailing the event.
Food, Sponsors and a Decades-Old Tradition
Culver's, Whataburger and The Bus Pizza are providing food, while Walmart, Food Lion and Pepsi are donating food or other event support, the station report states. Parking is available in the Heritage Park lots. Local businesses also had the option to sponsor the free festivities this year, with the Simpsonville Police Department offering corporate sponsorship tiers ranging from $250 to over $300 in exchange for station branding and official department challenge coins, according to a listing on WhosOnTheMove.com.
National Night Out started in 1984 and connects police departments with the neighborhoods they serve nationwide. Simpsonville previously adjusted its own schedule to October back in 2023 because of conflicts with other city events, breaking from the traditional nationwide August date, according to a Facebook post from that year. Residents attending this year's event can expect to meet police officers, firefighters, EMS crews and public works staff all in one place at Heritage Park, which also serves as Simpsonville's primary outdoor venue and has hosted regional entertainment including the Greenville Country Music Fest.
Greenville County Animal Care is also expected to bring dogs available for adoption to the event. The night's community policing focus comes against a backdrop in which Simpsonville was rated the safest city in South Carolina in 2017 based on FBI crime statistics and ranked 15th statewide by 2021 as the city's population continued to grow, according to Wikipedia. The Simpsonville Police Department, which operates out of East Curtis Street under Chief Michael D. Hanshaw, coordinates its state records reporting through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, per the City of Simpsonville.
