Big trucks draw big crowds at the Big Truck Petting Zoo in Lethbridge, May 14, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

By Drew Stremick

Big trucks draw big crowds

May 14, 2022 | 5:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB — The Big Truck Petting Zoo brought out big crowds to the Lethbridge Public Library Crossings Branch on Saturday May 14, 2022. Children of all ages lined up to climb up and experience all sorts of different equipment, from bucket trucks to police cruisers, and even the Bookmobile was there.

Branch Services Manager for the Lethbridge Public Library, Sarah Head, says the turnout so far has been great.

“We’ve had a turnout that surpassed what we expected so far,” Sarah said. “So far, about 1400 people and we’re only two hours in. So we’re really excited, and we’re very happy to be able to offer the event again.”

Kids loved checking out all the big equipment at the Big Truck Petting Zoo in Lethbridge, May 14, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

Sarah also talked about how initially the plan was to not allow horn honking or sirens during the event, but she said some buttons were just too hard to resist.

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“We tried to enforce the no honking rule, but the kids are so eager and the buttons are too enticing for some of them,” she said.

A grader at the Big Truck Petting Zoo, May 14, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

The Big Truck Petting Zoo hasn’t happened for the past two years because of the pandemic, and the kids were really happy that the event was back. Lots of kids were eager to share their thoughts on their favourite vehicles on display.

Lincoln was quick to say what his favourite was. “The firetruck,” he said.

His sister, Savannah, hadn’t made up her mind yet. “I don’t really have one yet,” she said. “I think my favourite will be the police truck, because it looks really cool.”

Other kids’ favourites included the excavator and the bucket truck, which are used by the City of Lethbridge Public Operations department.

Bucket Truck at the Big Truck Petting Zoo, May 14, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

To provide a break from the bigger and louder equipment, the Lethbridge Public Library staff also had the Bookmobile on site with a reading area set up.

Sarah Head says the Bookmobile is a good way to showcase more of what the Library offers, and it’s not just for kids.

“We always want people to know that they can come on the bookmobile. It’s not just for kids or schools,” Sarah said. “It’s open to the community, so anybody can see the bookmobile. You can pop on, check it out, and get some books.”

As a take away, kids were able to take home novelty hard hats or fire helmets, and miniature green bins, which were rolled out to about 1,900 homes in Lethbridge at the end of April 2022.

Lethbridge Police Explosion Disposal Unit at the Big Truck Petting Zoo, May 14, 2022 (Photo: LNN)