Coaldale’s National Night Out event on Tuesday had plenty of fun-filled activities.

There was a lot of freebies handed out, all food and drink was free, a basketball shooting game gave prizes, fire apparatus was on display, hands-on CPR training was available and there was a magic show geared to children.

This was the eighth year of Coaldale’s National Night Out, sponsored by the Coaldale Crime Watch group. It was held on the grounds of the Coaldale Complex behind the fire department.

Steve Teeno, chairman of the Crime Watch group, said about 15 organizations participated.

The Crime Watch had plenty of giveaways including hot dogs, water, flavored ice, pens, pencils, wrist bands and prizes for a basketball throw game.

“Our mission at Crime Watch is communication and education,” Teeno said. “We let people learn what’s all available in the community. We foster a sense of belonging in the community.”

A highlight was a magic show by Jon Bonner of Tamaqua, who was assisted by a youngster, Ariana Wakefield. At times, Bonner was upstaged by Wakefield — to the delight of the children in the audience — as she slyly did her own magic and pranks.

Teeno said Bonner has been returning to the National Night Out program for a number of years.

The Coaldale Fire Department had all its equipment on display and available for scrutiny by the youngsters. In addition, volunteers from the department had a stand where they handed out plastic helmets, coloring books, fire prevention and education materials, wrist bands and various other specialty items.

Several members, including paramedics, of the Lehighton Ambulance Association attended and had free materials. They also had a resuscitation dummy where they instructed children on the basics of CPR, allowing them to try the lifesaving maneuver themselves.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Larry Padora visited. He also had attended the Tamaqua National Night Out festivities.

“This is a great thing for the police and first responders to be introduced to the public,” he said. “It’s really a good thing.”

Also attending was Tamaqua Chief of Police Michael Hobbs. He was pleased with the turnout by the public and was especially impressed by watch the Crime Watch put together.

“It’s a great thing to see the people in the town come out to this,” Hobbs said.

St. Luke’s Miners Hospital had personnel present and handed out various items such as pens and scratch pads.

Free fingerprinting was available for children.