The rumble of heavy engines, the flash of emergency lights and the blast of an air horn will soon fill West Zwick’s Park as Touch-a-Truck returns to Belleville this Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The annual family event gives children an up-close look at the vehicles they usually see working from a distance.
There will be fire trucks, police vehicles and construction equipment to delight children and family members.
Presented by the Rotary Club of Belleville in partnership with Discover Belleville, Touch-a-Truck has become a popular fall tradition for local families.
The event brings together vehicle operators, first responders, businesses and community organizations for a day built around hands-on discovery.
Instead of simply watching the trucks roll past, children can climb into selected vehicles, sit behind the wheel and meet the people who operate them.
Schedule at a Glance
10 a.m.: Touch-a-Truck opens (Quiet Time from 10 a.m. to Noon) at West Zwick’s Park (10 Bay Bridge Rd.)
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Vehicle displays and family activities
Throughout the day: Opportunities to meet drivers, equipment operators and first responders
3 p.m.: Event closes
Families are encouraged to arrive early and leave enough time to explore.
Other activities include:
Face Painting with Happy Faces the County
Zone Athletics Tumble Course
Family Space Truck-Related Sensory Activity
Once Upon a Child Play Trucks and Store Information
CDC Quinte Information Table and Handouts
City of Belleville Community Services Booth
The following local food trucks and vendors will be on-site with meals, snacks and refreshments available for purchase: Dr. Bucks Sweet Treats, Duffer’s Chip Wagon and Burger Revolution.
Climb In and Look Around
For children fascinated by anything with wheels, Touch-a-Truck offers plenty to examine.
They may have the chance to see the controls inside a fire engine, compare the size of industrial tires or find out what equipment is stored inside an emergency vehicle.
Operators will be available to explain what their vehicles do and answer the kinds of questions children are rarely able to ask on an ordinary day.
Parents should expect an active and sometimes noisy experience.
Engines may start, lights may flash and horns may sound without much warning.
The result is a lively mix of movement and mechanical noise that carries across the park.
Families with children who are sensitive to sound may wish to arrive early during quiet time from 10 a.m. to noon, where no honking is allowed.
The event is also an opportunity to introduce children to some of the people who help keep Belleville running.
Public works crews, emergency responders, skilled operators and other community workers use these vehicles every day to build roads, respond to calls, move equipment and provide essential services.
Between the rows of trucks, families can enjoy additional children’s activities and connect with participating community organizations.
Touch-a-Truck combines curiosity, community and some seriously impressive machinery, and is a memorable way to spend a family day in Belleville.
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