Touch a Truck Draws Crowds and Smiles in North Branford

It was a bright and sunny Sunday Afternoon where families gathered with their children to see trucks and large work and transport vehicles from all over Connecticut. At the 11th annual Touch a Truck, there was plenty to see, hear and experience. 

The event allows children of all ages to get up close and inside the trucks where they can beep the horn, toggle switches, turn the wheel and sit in the driver's seat while onlooking parents smile and take pictures. The owners and operators of the vehicles supervise and educate. Firemen pass out helmets. Other representatives hand out cards and T-shirts.

In the past few years, Touch a Truck has taken a marketing approach, allowing companies providing the trucks the benefit of getting their name out in the public while supporting a good cause. Plenty of company trucks, cars, buses and even boats boasted their names in the highschool lot, creating a colorful gathering with enough trucks for every kid to explore. 

The Roaming Railroad train and Safari Rides provided fun rides around the event. Dunkin' Donuts offered treats outside their impressive latte shaped truck.  Most popular of all were the emergency and service vehicles that save and protect the public. Kids jumped at the chance to climb into the firetrucks, ambulances and military hmmwv's. 

Touch a Truck started at 1 p.m. and lasted three hours in perfect, sunny weather.  This year's event also featured a food stand with the proceeds benefiting the family of North Branford. 

So was the turnout good?  "I think so–it's [numbers] hard to figure out since people come into the event from every direction," said Pam Gery, North Branford's Park and Recreation director. "The bottom line is there's a lot of smiles."