Florence Police and Fire/EMS will roll out equipment, serve free food, and meet residents face-to-face on Aug. 4, at the city's annual National Night Out, running 5 to 7 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd.

Admission is free.

The event brings together officers, firefighters, paramedics, public services staff, city council members, and community organizations for an open house of city departments. Residents can walk up to police cruisers and fire apparatus on display, visit information booths about city initiatives, and grab a free grill-out dinner.

A highlight of the evening: the City of Florence Veterans Commission will lead a Liberty Tree dedication ceremony at 6:15 p.m., marking America's 250th birthday. The tree, planted at the Government Center, will stand as a permanent tribute to the nation's founding ideals.

"The Liberty Tree represents more than our nation's history, it symbolizes the strength of a community that comes together in the spirit of freedom, service, and unity," Mayor Julie Metzger-Aubuchon said in a city announcement Aug. 3.

During the American Revolution, Liberty Trees served as gathering places where colonists rallied for independence. Florence's version will stand on Government Center grounds as a lasting marker of the semiquincentennial.

National Night Out began in 1984 as a way to strengthen ties between neighborhoods and law enforcement. Kentucky now has 15 registered communities participating in the nationwide program, according to NKY Tribune reporting.

Free Filmore's Ice Cream, sponsored by M&P Logistics, rounds out the evening.

The city said it will monitor weather conditions and post updates on its website and social media channels if the event needs to be delayed or canceled. Melissa Kramer, the city's clerk and public relations administrator, is the media contact at 859-647-8177.