RAPID CITY, S.D. — Residents, volunteers and community partners will gather at Star Village on June 10 for a full day of activities aimed at strengthening neighborhood connections and improving public safety through the annual Light Up The Night event.

The event, themed “Keeping Star Village Lit, Keeping Star Village Safe,” will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and feature a variety of community projects, youth activities, food and entertainment.

Organizers say the event is made possible through the Mayor’s Love Your Block Grant awarded through the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University and is also part of Fountain Springs Church’s Love Your Neighbor Week.

Throughout the day, volunteers will work on several neighborhood improvement projects, including building a new garden shed for the tool lending library and installing lighting in the recently completed Big Dill Youth Community Garden. Additional efforts will include distributing porch light bulbs, installing solar lights for residents and repairing seven neighborhood light poles. Black Hills Energy will also install new LED lighting throughout the area to improve visibility and safety.

Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Program Manager Jamie Kirsch said the event is focused on bringing neighbors together while creating a safer environment.

“We are building a new garden shed for the tool lending library, putting up a light installation over the new Big Dill Youth Community Garden, distributing light bulbs for porch lights and installing new outdoor solar lights for residents who want them,” Kirsch said. She added residents are encouraged to decorate and light up their homes, with prizes awarded to the brightest and most creative displays as selected by neighborhood youth.

Youth activities planned throughout the day include a gaga ball tournament, glow in the dark poster decorating, reflective tape installation on bicycles and helmets, and tipi teaching. The Rapid City Area Schools Food Truck will provide lunch for youth participants, guardians and seniors.

A community dinner is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. and will feature food trucks, desserts and entertainment by the Wicouncage Youth Drum Group.

The day will conclude with a ribbon cutting ceremony and the official lighting of the new neighborhood lights. The ceremony will kick off a neighborhood parade at 8 p.m., featuring a variety of community entries.

The event is hosted in partnership with the Rapid City Police Department, Journey On, Black Hills Energy and several other community organizations.

For more information, contact Jamie Kirsch at 605-872-0165 or Kelly Oakley with Fountain Springs Church at 605-787-3234.