Children of all ages are invited to the Jennings Festival Association’s annual Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday.

The family-friendly event is open free to the public, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.. at the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park, just off Interstate 10 (Exit 64) and La. 26 in Jennings.

“Touch-A-Truck offers children of ages a chance to get up close and personal with a wide variety of trucks, machinery and large vehicles that play an important role in the community, “ City Events Coordinator Katelyn Little.

During the event, children can climb aboard, explore and touch some of their favorite vehicles in a safe environment, Little said. Children will also have a chance to ask questions and learn more about the vehicles.

Children can get up close to emergency vehicles including fire trucks, police cars and ambulances, as well as big trucks, construction equipment, delivery vehicles, tow trucks, farming equipment, tractors, boats, motorcycles, antique cars and more. The Louisiana National Guard, UPS and Waste Management are also expected to have vehicles on display.

“We tried to find vehicles and equipment that kids get excited about seeing,” Little said. “For most of these kids they may be seeing a combine, an UPS truck or whatever it is, up close for the first time.”

More than 20 different vehicles, trucks and equipment were on display during last year’s inaugural event. Little hopes to double the display this year.

“The neatest thing about this event is it highlights all of the things that run our city,” she said. “Everything from delivery trucks and construction equipment to all the emergency services.”

In addition, Little hopes the display will highlight some of the future potential career options for those attending the event.

“We are targeting elementary school children, but infants to upper elementary are probably the ones to be most excited about it,” she said. “But we may have some junior high or high schoolers and this may be their only chance to be near that equipment up close to see what is going on.”

Several of the vehicles and equipment will have interactive, hands-on activities for children including a chance to “blare the sirens.”

“Last year the Sheriff’s Office set up a special radio system and let the kids take back and forth to each other,” she said. “And the ambulance let the kids go inside and pretend to be EMTs.”

Parking and admission to the event is free.

Vehicles and equipment will continue to be accepted until the space is filled up, Little said.

“I’d truly be excited if we ran out of space,” she said, adding that she hopes to keep the event growing.

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For more information or to register a vehicle or equipment, email Little at klittle@cityofjennings.com