This event lets children explore some of the big equipment that helps Topeka run

Big trucks and a lot of fun are on the horizon for downtown Topeka.

Topeka's annual Touch-A-Truck event will take place in the street for the 10th year.

Event organizer Zach Snethen, of HTK Architects, said his goal is to spark interest in construction or design trades as a career for kids.

"It is an opportunity for kids to get out there and get up close with the big equipment that builds things," Snethen said. "They get to talk to the operators and climb up in the equipment, see what it's like being up in some pretty big equipment."

Streetsweepers, Cranes and more will be available for children to touch

Touch-A-Truck will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. There will be as many as 45 trucks and equipment on display for children and families to enjoy.

Street sweepers, cranes, skid steer loaders and more will be on display, Snethen said. As the years have gone by, turnout has increased.

Snethen said the outcome of people in the first year of the event was 1,000 to 2,000 people. Now, 10 years later, that number has increased to as many as 8,000 children and adults.

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Free admission for all at Topeka's Touch-A-Truck event

The event is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring can goods to assist Harvester's Topeka fill its food bank.

Children will also receive passports to mark off each location they visit. After completion, a free Touch-A-Truck themed T-shirt will be available "while supplies last," Snethen said.

Snethen said having the event in downtown Topeka has been fun for all involved.

"I like having it downtown," he said. "It gets people in an urban environment and maybe experiencing a place that they haven't been to yet."

All equipment will be spread out along S. Kansas Avenue and 7th Street, as well as Evergy Plaza.

"It'd be a lot easier to set this up in a parking lot somewhere," Snethen said, "but I think there's some excitement of having it downtown."

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Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's Touch-A-Truck celebrates 10 years of exploring big engines