Seven neighborhoods and businesses received awards Tuesday night for their participation in this year’s National Night Out celebration.

All participating communities, businesses, sponsors, judges and committee members also were recognized at the ceremony, which was held in City Council chambers.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for all the hard work y’all do,” Chief Thomas Bennett told the participants. “National Night Out cannot be successful without dedicated people like yourself. We’re all winners for teaming together to keep crime under control.”

City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn also thanked the communities for their participation.

“This is our city,” she said. “We want to send a clear message to everyone that we want to keep it safe, and we want to keep it vibrant.”

Youth and adult judges visited the communities and ranked the celebrations based on factors such as advance publicity, available activities and whether crime prevention was highlighted at the event.

The first-place community for the third year in a row was Applewood Farms Homeowners’ Association. The celebration had air guitar and graffiti art competitions, official National Night Out bubbles and a karaoke contest.

The second-place community was Burbage Grant Neighborhood Watch. This was also the third award in a row for the North Suffolk neighborhood, which publicized its event via fliers delivered to 1,400 homes. The judges said the event had “wonderful interaction of all ages.”

Separate awards were given for combined community celebrations. Coming in first place was the Downtown Driver Merchant’s Association, which won Rookie of the Year Last year. Judges said the mascot cornhole tournament and “jail,” where participants raised bail money to pay for children’s activities and school supplies for local schools, made the night.

In second place for combined communities was the Greater Oakland and Chuckatuck Civic League. The event has won awards the past three years, starting with its rookie year. More than 500 people attended and were treated to food, entertainment, children’s activities, school supply giveaways and more.

An honorable mention award went to the Hilton Garden Inn Harbourview, which hosted a party for neighboring communities and businesses. The Rookie of the Year award went to the South Suffolk/Pleasant Hill Civic Association, which held a basketball tournament and provided entertainment with a gospel choir. Finally, the Suffolk Beauty and Barbers and East and West Washington Street businesses earned first place with their island-themed event.