Big Trucks Event Canceled In Avon Lake

AVON LAKE, OH — Avon Lake's annual Big Trucks event has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Big Trucks, an event for families, which features large vehicles for children to explore, was originally scheduled for Sept. 19. Mayor Greg Zilka said running the event proved problematic in "many ways."

"It is truly a hands-on event with kids climbing on and in various large vehicles from the police, fire and public works departments from Avon Lake, Lorain County and the Cleveland area. With many hands touching the same surfaces it would have been a challenge trying to keep the many surfaces sanitized," Zilka said in a message to the community.

The mayor noted that Big Trucks would have to be substantially changed if it were to move forward. Making the event safe for children and parents would have meant curtailing much of what people enjoyed about the festivities.

Zilka said the city would have likely faced additional problems securing large vehicles from different organizations throughout the region. One of the highlights of the Big Trucks event is the arrival and departure of helicopters.

"As we all know, hospitals are financially hard pressed after the challenge of dealing with the many COVID-19 patients during the previous four months. With over 2,000 people attending, the practice of social distancing would not be able to be followed and the complimentary hot dog lunch would not be part of the event," Zilka said.

City officials intend to resume Big Trucks in 2021.