Albuquerque families invited to free Touch-a-Truck event June 6
Families climbed onto loaders, checked out robots and snow blowers, and saw how city and county equipment keeps Albuquerque running at Franklin Plaza.
Families packed Franklin Plaza on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Juan Tabo Boulevard NE for the fifth annual Touch-a-Truck, a free, family-friendly event that put city and county equipment within reach. Children climbed aboard a front-end loader, explored a dump truck and got a close look at the runway snow blowers used at the Albuquerque Sunport.
The event, organized by City Councilor Renée Grout, also put public safety machinery on display in a way most residents never see up close. Law enforcement robots, Kirtland AFB drone operators and the District 9 brush truck funded for Albuquerque Fire Rescue were among the draw. For families, the setup turned big government equipment into something understandable, not abstract, showing how local agencies move, clear, protect and respond across Bernalillo County.
That visibility mattered because the event was not just about spectacle. In a county where road maintenance, storm response and emergency calls are part of daily life, the vehicles told a practical story about who does the work and what it takes to do it. The city’s listing said attendees could climb aboard machinery and see equipment that usually appears only at the edge of a work zone or in the middle of a response scene.
Last year’s fourth annual event showed how broad that civic showcase had become. The city’s recap said the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police and APD Mounted Patrol all took part, along with the city’s Aviation, Community Safety, Arts & Culture, Senior Affairs, Parks and Rec, and Youth and Family Services departments. An Animal Welfare Department pet adoption event also was part of the day, adding another layer of service to the public gathering.
Grout said in 2025 that the event can help remove fear of police officers and firefighters and bring the community together. That idea was on display again at Franklin Plaza, where the tools of government were not hidden behind fences or flashing lights, but opened up for children and adults to inspect, touch and understand.
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