Roll on over to 'Waukegan's Touch A Truck and National Night Out' events

The Waukegan Park District and city of Waukegan Police Department team up to host the fifth annual Touch a Truck event and Waukegan Police Department's National Night Out from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Waukegan Beach. A free family movie, "How to Train Your Dragon - The Hidden World," will be shown at dusk near the swimming beach, sponsored by the Waukegan Park District. There will also be a new event this year: the Kids Bike Safety Rodeo, designed for children ages 6-14.

Touch a Truck allows children and adults to get up close and explore more than 20 public service, fire, police, construction, and utility trucks, all in one place. Children will be allowed to touch, climb on, honk horns, and ask questions about their favorite vehicles.

National Night Out focuses on heightening community awareness of crime and drug prevention, and on strengthening neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

The event is free. Food vendors will be on-site selling food. Event sponsors include Vista Health System, Classic Toyota-Kia, Waukegan Community Bank, and Lewis Fresh Market. For information, call (847) 360-4700 or visit www.waukeganparks.org.

Trucks and more

Participating organizations plan to have the following on hand for children to see, climb on and explore:

• Waukegan Park District: Kubota (makers of farm and construction equipment)

• Burris Equipment: back hoe

• Waukegan Fire Department: fire truck, ambulance, bomb truck and rover, as well as Fire Safety House

• Waukegan Police Department: squad car, police RTV and animal control van, as well as NIPAS command Center

• Lake County Sheriff's Department: squad car

• First Student Transportation: school bus

• Waukegan Public Works: snowplow, beachcomber, antique water truck

• Advanced Disposal: recycling truck

• Penske: sleeper cab truck

• Whitmore's Towing: wrecker and tow truck

• Point Ready Mix: cement mixer

• Peapod: race car and service truck

• U.S. Army: Humvee

• Toyota of Waukegan: four pickup trucks

Additional activities:

• Kids Bike Safety Rodeo from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bring your bike and helmet; a limited supply will be on hand.

• Monster truck relay races

• Little Truckers Truck Stop

• Fire Safety House

• Bounce houses

• Dunk tank; all donations go to Special Olympics

• Free face painting

• Police dog demonstration

• Food vendors

• Free movie: "How to Train Your Dragon - The Hidden World"

• Disc Jockey Music, sponsored by the city of Waukegan