The residents of Hickory Ridge Community in Richland County will be using pots and pans as instruments in a parade outside their homes tonight to show criminals they aren’t wanted.

The neighborhood, between Leesburg Road and Sumter Highway, along with other communities throughout Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties, will be participating in the 23rd annual National Night Out Against Crime.

Edith Cunningham, president of the Hickory Ridge community association, came up with the idea for the pots and pans parade.

“I would hope it would generate some attention,” she said.

National Night Out is designed to encourage residents to take a stand against crime. Many neighborhoods plan cookouts or walks.

“It’s a good way to let your neighbors know what you’re involved in and what your intentions are,” Cunningham said.

Following is a list of events planned tonight in neighborhoods throughout the Midlands:

KERSHAW COUNTY

Blaney community: K-9 police dog team; fire services will give out hats, Blaney Elementary, 621 Smyrna Road, Elgin.

LEXINGTON COUNTY

Events are planned from 7 to 10 p.m.

Gardendale neighborhood Crime Watch: Gardendale Drive

The Hub Neighborhood Crime Watch: Prayer meeting, The Hub community center near Chapin

Rose Drive Neighborhood Crime Watch: cookout

Victorian Lake Neighborhood Crime Watch: Clubhouse

Stratton Place Neighborhood Crime Watch: Ice cream social

Hillshire Neighborhood Crime Watch: Walk

Carriage Lane Neighborhood Crime Watch: Clubhouse

Avalon Neighborhood Crime Watch: Snacks

Wexford Neighborhood Crime Watch: Cookout

Quail Valley Neighborhood Crime Watch: Clubhouse

Sharpes Hill Neighborhood Crime Watch: Sharpes Hill community club, covered-dish dinner

Gaston Community Crime Watch: Gaston Civic Center on North Carlisle Street in Gaston

Horseneck Neighborhood Crime Watch and Daniel Sharpe Neighborhood Crime Watch: Horseneck Community Center on Bub Wise Road near Swansea, grand opening of Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Horseneck Substation

Whiskey Road Neighborhood Crime Watch and Boiling Springs/Red Bank Neighborhood Crime Watch: Rish Road

Oak Pointe Neighborhood Crime Watch: Watermelon

Murray Hill Estates Neighborhood Crime Watch: Dogwood Point

RICHLAND COUNTY

Aurthurtown: 7 p.m. walk

Rosewood Community Council: 7 p.m. Rosewood Park

Melrose Community: 7 p.m. Melrose Park

Hunters Way Apartments: 6 p.m. complex office

Trenholm Acres: 7 p.m. 7400 block of Highview Drive

Pinehurst Community: 7 p.m. Pinehurst Community Center on School House Road

Mossley Hills: 7 p.m. 1716 Thorndike

Bradley Community: 6:30 p.m. Pinebelt Road and Carter Street

Edgewood Community: 6:30 p.m. Drew Wellness Center on Harden Street

Greater Woodfield Park: 6:30 p.m. Castle Pickney and Long Shadow Road

Woodfield Park: 6 p.m. walk

Hunt Club Village Apartments: 6 p.m. presentation on gangs

Lionsgate Condominiums 6 p.m. walk

Polo Ridge Community: 7 p.m. walk

Newcastle: 6 p.m. cookout

College Place: 7 p.m. Arden Elementary, cookout

Colonial Heights: 7 p.m. 3600 Colonial, cookout

Meadowlake: 7 p.m. Penrose and Sedgewood

North 21 Terrace: 7 p.m. Barksdale Drive

Windemere Springs: 7 p.m. Arden Elementary

Golden Acres: 7 p.m. Katy Street Park

Denny Terrace: 7 p.m. Community Center

Lincolnshire: 7 p.m. Fire Station on Crane Church, cookout

Bonnie Forrest: 7 p.m. walk

Chartwell: 7 p.m. cookout

Courtyard Condominiums: 7 p.m. walk

Columbiana Ridge Apartments 4 to 9 p.m. cookout

Glenridge: 7 p.m. walk

Harbison: 7 p.m. walk

Richland Terrace: 7 p.m. walk

River Walk: 7 p.m. cookout

Village Creek: 7 p.m. cookout

Woodsedge: 7 p.m. walk

Misty Glen: 7:30 p.m. 117 Misty Glen

Pinevalley: 7:30 p.m. Columbia High School

Bear Creek: 6 p.m. Bear Creek and Grover Wilson, cookout

Briarcliff: 6 p.m. pool

Maywood Place: 7:30 p.m. Dunoon Court

Autumn Run: 6 p.m. 304 Autumn Run

Indigo Springs: 6 p.m. common area

COLUMBIA

Arsenal Hill Community: 6-9 p.m. at Lincoln and Laurel streets

Booker Washington Heights Neighborhood: 6-9 p.m. Katheryn Bellfield Cultural Arts Center

Edgewood/Read Street CICC: 6-8 p.m. Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Solomon Walker Way

Pinehurst Community: 6-9 p.m. Pinehurst Park, cookout

Rochelle Heights/Victory Gardens: 7-10 p.m. 1450 Victory St.

Belmont Community Association: 6-10 p.m. New Jerusalem International Church, 1003 Colleton St.

Burton Heights/Standish Acres: 6-8 p.m. 5200 Block Colonial Drive

Colonial Heights: 6-9 p.m. 3600 block Hydrick St.

Colonial/West community: 6-9 p.m. 1900 block Hydrick St.

Earlewood: 7-10 p.m. Earlewood Park

Golden Acres: 6-9 p.m. Volume One Beauty Salon, 4700 Jones St.

Hyatt Park: 6-10 p.m. Hyatt Park/Leroy Moss Center

Northwood Hills: 6-9 p.m. Alcorn Middle School

Skyland Drive Neighborhood Association: 7-10 p.m.

North Columbia: 7-9 p.m. Greenview Park

Lincoln Park: 6 – 9 p.m. 2200 Chappelle St.

Riverside: 6-9 p.m. community room, 3245 Lucius Road, talent and step show

Prescott Manor Apartments: 6-8:30 p.m. community room, 1601 Prescott St.

Colonial Park Neighborhood Assoc.: 6-8 p.m. Grant Street Court

Brandon Acres Community Council: 6-9 p.m. Hampton Park, covered- dish, live entertainment

Forest Hills: 6-8 p.m. Westminster and Canterbury streets, ice cream social.

Historic Waverly/Lyon St./LMW: 6-9 p.m. Lady Street Koban, 2111 Lady St.

Rosewood Community Council: Owens Field, Jim Hamilton Boulevard, sports demonstrations, disc golf, skateboarding