Knoxville Zoo is bringing in the heavy equipment for a special event sure to please admirers of trucks as powerful as an elephant and nimble as a gazelle. The zoo will be hosting "Touch A Truck", presented by Nortrax, on Saturday, August 25, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The first 300 children through the gate will receive a free child's-sized construction hat.

Visitors can get up close to a wide variety of heavy trucks, emergency vehicles and specialized automobiles, including equipment made to move mountains of dirt from Nortrax and Stowers Machinery and the Knoxville Zoo "Zookeeper" truck from Claiborne Hauling. A fire engine from the Knoxville Fire Department and emergency response vehicles from Rural Metro and the Knoxville Volunteer Emergency Rescue Squad will be on site along with personnel from these organizations to talk with guests. The Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association will be bringing three vehicles that have been converted to electric power, and the Safe n' Sound Camo Truck will also make an appearance. Visitors can take a ride through the zoo on The Barrel Train Express during event hours as well.

Touch A Truck activities are included with general zoo admission. For more information, please visit the zoo's Web site at www.knoxvillezoo.org, the zoo's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/knoxvillezoo or call the zoo at 865-637-5331.

Special thanks to Nortrax, Knoxville Fire Department, Rural Metro, Knoxville Emergency Rescue Squad, the Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association, Safe n' Sound Creative Technology, Claiborne Hauling and Stowers Machinery for their support of this event. Knoxville Zoo is Knoxville's largest year-round attraction. Located off exit 392 on Interstate 40, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Day. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865-637-5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxvillezoo.org.