Kids can explore at these Touch-a-Truck events in Columbus

Kids love to explore emergency vehicles, construction vehicles, and farm equipment, and there are plenty of touch-a-truck events in Columbus and Central Ohio to fulfill their curiosity!

These events are a wonderful learning experience for kids that are full of photo-ops, so don’t forget your phone or camera.

While some Touch-a-Truck events are planned for 2023, details are still tba for others. We will add them as they are announced.

April Touch-a-Truck events

Autism Awareness Open House with City of Hilliard Division of Police
April tba, 2023 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. The agency’s 5th Annual Autism Awareness Open House will be held Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Safety Services Building, 5171 Northwest Parkway. This event provides participants the opportunity to socialize with First Responders in a calm and reassuring environment.

May Touch-a-Truck events

Powell Touch a Truck

Friday, May 5, 2023 from 11 am – 1 pm.
Trucks and vehicles will fill Adventure Park for this fun event

Touch a Truck in Pickerington

Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 10 am – 12 pm
At the Pickerington Community Pool. Bring your kids to enjoy a variety of big trucks, cars, engines and more. Touch-A-Truck may have a slightly different setup from prior years, but kids will still love seeing their favorite big vehicles.

Touch a Truck in Canal Winchester

Friday, May 19, 2023 from 6-9 pm
During Music in the Park. Bring the Family to Touch-A-Truck at Stradley Park to check out Police & Fire vehicles on display.

Touch-A-Truck will showcase vehicles from Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Township Police Department, and Madison Township Fire Department, with live music by Simple Harvest.
36 S. High St, Canal Winchester

Touch a Truck at Hilliard’s Station Park: Friday, May tba 2023 from 10 am – 12 pm.
This Children’s event features interactive fun with Big Trucks, Cars, Machines, Police and Fire Vehicles. Touch-A-Truck takes place at Hilliard’s Station Park (corner of Center and Main Streets in Old Hilliard)

Upper Arlington Spring Fling: Saturday, May tba, 2023 from 11 am – 2 pm
Kids can explore city vehicles during the Spring Fling at Sunny 95 Park.

Touch a Truck at Prairie Township Community Center in Galloway: May tba, 2023 from 12 pm – 2 pm

June Touch a Truck events

Marysville Touch a Truck: Saturday, June tba 2023 from 10 am – 1 pm.
Check out fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, tractors, a wheel loader and more at Mill Valley Park South, 1067 Creekview Dr.

Touch a Truck to Fill a Truck: June tba 2023 from 10 am – 2 pm
At Byers Chevy. There will be a fire truck, tow truck, cement truck, fork lifts, John Deere tractor, garbage truck, dump truck, Police Cruisers, Police K9 units, skid steer, and more. Food trucks will be there, so plan to grab lunch while you’re there!

Admission is free, but please bring a canned or non-perishable food item to help fill the bed of the truck to donate to the Grove City Food Pantry. Byers Chevy, 5887 N Meadows Dr., Grove City, Ohio 43123

Dog Days of Summer at Pataskala Grace Church: Saturday, June tba 2023 from 11 am – 2 pm.
Support Pataskala Police Department K9 Program at this annual fundraiser. All of the proceeds from this event will go towards the purchase and training of a new police K9. It is FREE to attend! You’ll enjoy:

Police K9 demonstrations
Fire and EMT Vehicles
Food trucks (Woodfired, M&S Grub Hub, and Whit’s) and Bake Sale
Vendor tables/booths and Silent Auction
Activities for kids

Annual Delaware County Touch a Truck: June tba 2023 from 10 am – 2 pm.
Join Delaware County EMS Medic 8 (6547 Marysville Rd, Ostrander) for the day and see vehicles big and small and meet some of the people who operate them. Admission is Free and the event is open to all ages.

The Science of Big Machines at COSI

June 10-18, 2023
Big machines and construction equipment converge in downtown Columbus for COSI’s annual Science of Big Machines. Get behind the wheel and experience equipment that builds roads, bridges, and buildings! Explore the science and technology of construction by trying it out first hand and learning with real engineers.

From small tools to big equipment, you’ll discover how big jobs get done. A multitude of pieces of construction equipment will be on hand to explore.

Touch a Tractor in Canal Winchester: Friday, June tba 2023 from 6-8 pm
During Music in the Park. Bring the Family to Touch-A-Tractor at Stradley Park to see a variety of tractors on display while you listen to live music by Hot Rod Lincolns.
36 S. High St, Canal Winchester

Wet Suits & Way-Cool Trucks: Friday, June tba 2023 from 10 am – noon
Dublin Community Recreation Parking Lot by amphitheater. Enjoy a variety of activities with Washington Township Fire Department to help make your summer safe! Tour Sparky’s fire safety house, Watch a fire department’s dive team demonstration in the Recreation Center pool (11 am), learn bike safety, and check out the fire and medic truck.

Touch a Truck at Texas Roadhouse East Main: Monday, June tba 2023 at 5 pm.
Texas Roadhouse partners with the Reynoldsburg PD and Reynoldsburg FD for a Touch a Truck event. Our local heroes will be here with their fire trucks, police cars, and more

July Touch a Truck events

Dozers & Diggers: The Science of Big Machines at The Works: July tba 2023 from 9 am – 2 pm.
Families are invited to get an up-close view of the fire trucks, lifts, bull dozers, and other big machines that get things done in our community. Jump in, climb around, and speak to the people who operate these extraordinary machines every day. From construction equipment to emergency vehicles, The Works’ campus will be filled with big wheels and treads! The day will also include food trucks, live demonstrations, activities and free admission to The Works.

Polaris Fashion Place Touch a Truck KidX Club: July tba 2023 from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm.
Located in the Polaris Lifestyle Center near The Cheesecake Factory. This is a FREE, family fun event where you and your kids can interact with a variety of COOL vehicles up close, including cranes, semi-trucks, emergency vehicles, and more!

Metro Parks Touch-a-Truck at Sharon Woods Metro Park: July tba 2023 from 4 pm – 7 pm.
Ever wonder what it’s like working at Metro Parks? Stop by and meet the people and the equipment behind the job. During this interactive family-friendly event, you can see, touch and explore a variety of trucks, tractors and more! Drop by between 4-7pm at the Schrock Lake Picnic Shelter.

Touch-a-Truck Community Day at Colony Square Mall: July tba 2023 from 11 am – 3 pm.
Interact with community support leaders and first responders, military personnel and more! Kids can check out police cars, army truck, fire truck, and more! Kids can sit in the driver’s seats and even honk the horns! There will be complimentary face painting inside.

August Touch a Truck events

Whitehall’s National Night out: August tba 2023 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
On the lawn of the Whitehall Police Station. Family fun, with a variety of emergency vehicles on display, safety-related vendors, an inflatable bounce house for kids and music!

COSI Farm Days

August 9-13, 2023. Farm machines, farm activities, and more. Included with admission.

Berlin TWP Fire Dept./ DCEMS Medic 10 Touch A Truck: August tba 2023 from 9 am – 12 pm
Olentangy Berlin High School. Bring the entire family for fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, helicopter and many more.

New Albany Touch a Truck: August tba 2023 from 10 am – 12:30 pm.
The event features all of the city vehicles, farm equipment, activities, child identification program, and free lunch. They’ll be accepting canned foods to donate to the New Albany Food Pantry.

September Touch a Truck events

Old Hilliardfest: September tba 2023
Downtown Hilliard. This free all-day festival features featuring 3 stages with live music, touch a truck, kids games and inflatables, carnival rides, a sunflower show, a car show, an art fair, and more.

Ohio State Fire Marshal Festival: September tba 2023
Family fun at our Fire Marshal Festival with Demonstrations, Activities, Kiddie Competitions, Give-aways, K-9 Units, Helicopters, food, and more.

Cops and Kids Day in Westerville: September tba 2023 from 12 pm – 4 pm.
Kids can interact with community police officers, and check out their technology and equipment along with motorcycles, cruisers, and specialty vehicles from agencies through Central Ohio.

October Touch a Truck events

Touch a Tractor at Fall Harvest Moon Festival: October tba 2023 from 12pm – 4pm
Infirmary Mound Park, Granville, OH.
Hands-on events for your young children. Held during the Fall Harvest Moon Festival at Infirmary Mound Park, explore, climb and touch tractors of all shapes and sizes! This event is free and open to the public.

Plain Township Fire Dept Open House: October tba 2023 from 10 am – 3 pm.
You don’t want to miss this exciting event; kids can explore the fire department and vehicles, use a real fire hose, watch a MedFlight helicopter take off (weather depending) and finish up with a HUGE foam party! There is lots of food with the chili cook-off, and you can have child ID badges made.

EASE Logistics Touch-a-Truck: October tba 2023 from 11 am – 1 pm.
Featuring 20+ trucks, family activities, free food, and more. Accepting canned goods for admission.

Fire Prevention Week: October tba, 2023
Most township and city fire departments will host special events at the fire stations, including touch-a-truck.

Prairie Township Fire Department Food Truck & Fire Prevention Festival: October tba 2023 from noon – 4 pm.
At the Fire Department. Food trucks, fire safety plans, touch-a-truck, tours of the fire house, and much more on the afternoon at Station 241, 123 Inah. There will be family activities to learn how you can prevent fires and make your community safer.

Franklin County Engineer’s Office Touch-and-Ride-a-Truck: October tba 2023 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio. County Engineer Cornell R. Robertson is thrilled to announce the return of the FCEO Touch-And-Ride-A-Truck, held at a new location at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. This Halloween-themed event is designed to give kids an opportunity to interact and learn about various equipment and vehicles.

Annual Cops & Community Trunk-or-Treat: October tba 2023 from 1-4 pm.
1955 Frank Rd, Columbus. Meet various Central Ohio law enforcement and first responders. Free raffles for bike helmets, gift cards, and gift baskets. Emergency vehicles will be decorated and candy will be passed out. Hot dogs, soda, water, chips and candy provided.

Trunk or Treat in Whitehall: October tba 2023 from 5:00-8:00 pm
Whitehall City Hall parking lot. Ghouls and goblins are invited to enjoy Trunk or Treat, a free family-friendly alternative to Trick or Treat, complete with candy, pumpkins, Touch-a-Truck, and more

Looking for more fun for Kids?

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