Crowds get up close to vehicles at Long Beach Touch-a-Truck event

On a sunny spring day, little kids and big trucks was a recipe for success in Long Beach Saturday.

The community turned out in full force for the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce’s annual Touch-a-Truck event at the Long Beach Harbor.

More than 40 vehicles from a Mardi Gras float to a fire truck engine were parked at the harbor to allow kids and their parents to get up close to their vehicles that they normally have to look at from a distance for safety’s sake.

The chamber’s very own Anna Claire Perrone says turnout was better than last year’s event. “It’s going great. The weather is beautiful, we have over 40 vehicles out here today and this is the largest turnout we’ve ever had. We have over a 1,500 people with us right now and we haven’t even hit 11 o’clock yet.”

Funds raised at Touch a Truck each year go towards the chamber’s small business grants and scholarship initiatives for Long Beach students.