From fixing potholes to maintaining traffic lights, collecting waste, and trimming trees, many of the services that keep our city running happen behind the scenes — but Lexingtonians get a front-row seat at this family-friendly annual event.

Truck-a-Palooza comes to Tates Creek High School for the first time on Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offering the chance to explore more than 20 city trucks and meet the employees who operate them.

The event brings together vehicles and crews from the city’s Environmental Quality and Public Works Department, representing divisions including:

Waste management
Water quality
Streets and roads
Traffic engineering
Environmental services
Building inspection

During the event, attendees are encouraged to explore the trucks up close, ask questions, and learn how each department contributes to maintaining our community.

Kids can climb into vehicles, interact with drivers, and even honk the horns of trucks they usually only see from the sidewalk.

Pro tip: A sensory-friendly quiet time with no honking truck horns will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to ensure an inclusive experience for all.

Families are also invited to take part in a “Thanks a Ton” activity by bringing a coloring sheet to share directly with drivers and staff as a way of showing appreciation for their work.

Grab your sunscreen and water bottles and plan for a morning of climbing into trucks, meeting drivers, and seeing the city’s work up close.