By Janel Boyd

Somewhere inside a diner on interstate 85, as you waited patiently for your family to pile back into the car, there is the visual of trucks driving by. The best was when the road was wet; the trucks would make this “wiiiiiishhhh” sound as they sped past. The colorful designs on the sides of their walls made the rectangular shape of this massive, moving vehicle so powerful that children, and adults, today still feel the familiar “wiiiiiishhhh” as trucks pass them on the highway. The great thing about today is that those drivers, kids, and anyone who find big tires an absolute delight, can all come together on March 23, for the annual Touch-a-Truck event in the John Deere parking lot.

This year is the 3rd annual Kiwanis Touch-a-Truck. Activities will begin Saturday morning, March 23 at 10am, and the fun will keep going until 2pm. Coordinated by the Kiwanis Club of Kernersville, these magnificent trucks will be set up at the East campus of John Deere, 645 North Park Drive, Kernersville. Bring co-workers, neighbors, kids, friends, and family for a fun, free event. As this event keeps growing, we are able to continue to add more and more trucks to our showcase. This year you can look forward to seeing 30 to 40 vehicles of all kinds. Not to keep you in complete suspense, you will be able to see many rescue vehicles, 18-wheelers, police cars, local trucks, and more as we continue garnering more involvement. Who is going to be the first to ask for a seat on the pontoon boat we will have on site?

With so many vehicles to explore for all ages, we are certainly prepared for you to get hungry at some point, and thirsty after you lose your voice from all the “VROOOOOOM, VROOOOOMS!” you will certainly proclaim throughout the day! Don’t worry, we have all your food and drink desires covered. Several food vendors will be present for people to purchase throughout the day.
Whether you like them or not, be prepared to see many enthusiastic, local mascots who are ready to cheer on our community, and our trucks. They will all be on their best behavior, since there will be a contest where you will get the opportunity to vote for your favorite mascot!

This event is designed for a ton of family fun and community engagement. The Kiwanis club will also be giving away free children’s books as part of the Kernersville Literacy Project. We ask that you keep in mind that your local Kernersville Kiwanis Club offers free children’s books throughout the community all year long, and events like the Touch-a-Truck are catalysts to creating a long-lasting bond between our schools, community, and civic organizations.

Visit the Touch-a-Truck Facebook page for updates, event information, and a map of the layout of the event.

Parking notations: Enter the John Deere parking lot from West Mountain Street and watch for signs pointing to overflow parking in the area. Golf-cart shuttles will transport guests from the parking lot to the vehicle display area. Come out and enjoy the fun! Tip for your littles: the truck horns can get pretty loud so bring along some earplugs if you child has sensitive ears. See you soon!