The event, which was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the building, provides an opportunity for kids to see a wide variety of emergency and large commercial vehicles up close.

The attendance was a slight increase from last year, according to Marnie Cochran Crane, a spokeswoman and project coordinator for the civic center and the event’s lead organizer.

“The variation of vehicles is definitely what draws the crowd. What we see is families spend hours at the event, it’s not just a stop-in and run,” she said.

The money raised will directly benefit the community, according to Crane.

Bodhi T., 4, of Saranac Lake, is decked out in dalmatian face paint as he smiles from a State Police cruiser. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“Funds from the event will go to support direct programming at the civic center, such as our popular community skating sessions,” she said.

A lengthy list of emergency departments, law enforcement, public works and private construction companies from the Tri-Lakes region were in attendance. Included were the State Police, Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department, Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, National Grid, DD Paving and the town of Harrietstown’s Adirondack Regional Airport.

Each brought at least one vehicle, which ranged in size from an all-terrain vehicle to a snowblower — for the airport runway.

Ambassadors from each department were on hand to offer quick lessons about the vehicles and point out the coolest aspects of operating them.

While the vehicles remained stationary in park throughout the event, children were allowed to climb inside any vehicle they wanted and test out lights, sirens, horns and a variety of other bells and whistles.

Jax A. of Bloomingdale smiles as he grabs the wheel of a Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department’s tanker truck. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

The only let-down of the day came when State Police Trooper James D’Ambro noted that a state police helicopter, which had been slated to make a touchdown appearance at the event, would no longer be coming. It was being used that day as part of an active search in the area.

D’Ambro, who serves as the school and community outreach coordinator for Troop B, spent much of the morning giving children tips and tricks on his police cruiser. A popular point: the lights.

Children could be seen grinning from ear to ear as they made their way in and out of vehicles throughout the event.

Even though temperatures were in the 70s, vehicles from all seasons were on display. A Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department ARGO amphibious rescue vehicle was a popular stop for many.

“It’s amazing how many different situations we can use it to respond,” explained Brady Belton, a department member at the event.

Hank B. smiles and puts the pedal to the metal in a plow on tracks. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“We can use it for fires, snowy conditions and search and rescue operations in rugged terrain that would be nearly impossible to access otherwise,” he said.

“Vrooooom!” exclaimed Jack Craig, 4, of Saranac Lake, as he and his father Jordan sat on top of it. Jack was even provided with a firefighter’s helmet to wear while on the vehicle.

Across the field from the ARGO, a monstrous Kodiak snowblower stood out.

“This is the biggest snowblower I have ever seen,” was a popular comment from children and adults alike as they passed by it. The machine is the newest addition to the Adirondack Regional Airport’s fleet of snowblowers in Lake Clear and makes quick work of the airport’s two 6,573 and 3,997-foot runways. Regularly coined “the coldest spot in the state” by meteorologists, as the site is used by the National Weather Service for official observations in the Tri-Lakes region, the need for such machinery for smooth winter operations is apparent.

Perhaps, one day, the children checking out the vehicles will grow to be the first responders, firefighters, officers, construction workers and personnel who use the trucks every day to keep the communities throughout the Tri-Lakes safe and sturdy.

(Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

While final fundraising numbers for the event were still being tallied at press time, Crane was incredibly proud of how the day went.

“The day was a success with an army of volunteers, food from local nonprofit organizations and 40 vehicles. … We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors and everyone who made the event so meaningful to the non-profit civic center,” she wrote in a text message after the event concluded.

Crane emphasized this was a team effort.

“We had a committee to handle a lot of the planning and Matt Wolter, the civic center’s manager, was heavily involved in making this a possibility,” she said.

Crane said she expects the Touch a Truck event to return to the Saranac Lake Civic Center next September.

Colden, left, of Paul Smiths and Bryson of Harrietsown smile from the driver’s seat of the Adirondack Regional Airport’s newest snowblower at the Saranac Lake Civic Center’s Touch a Truck event on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Chief Michael Knapp, of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, gives a big thumbs-up in front of Tanker 145. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)