Cookout With The Cops Is Thursday At John Ward Park; Free Food And School-Supply Drive

Cookout With The Cops Is Thursday At John Ward Park; Free Food And School-Supply Drive

ANOKA, Minn. — The Anoka Police Department will host its annual “Cookout with the Cops” on Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 5–7 p.m. at John Ward Park (2400 Forest Ave., Anoka).

The free, family-friendly event features hot dogs, chips, and freeze pops, and includes meet-and-greets with officers and squad vehicles on site. Attendees are encouraged to bring school supplies and personal hygiene products to be donated to local schools. City event details also list a contact number (763-576-2807) and a parks email for questions.

City listings place the event on the Parks & Recreation calendar and confirm the date, time, location, and donation focus. Similar “Cookout with the Cops” gatherings have been staples of Anoka’s late-summer community programming in recent years; a 2023 cookout was postponed during a heat wave, underscoring the department’s practice of communicating changes through the city calendar.

If you go

• When: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, 5–7 p.m.
• Where: John Ward Park, 2400 Forest Ave., Anoka, MN 55303
• Cost: Free
• Bring: New school supplies and personal hygiene products for donation to local schools

Info: 763-576-2807 (City of Anoka/Police)