MOOSE JAW — A new event took over the Town ‘N’ Country Mall recently bringing together vehicles, vendors, and family-friendly fun for the community.
“Truck-a-Palooza” Family Fun Day was designed to offer local families a unique opportunity to explore various trucks and enjoy a day of activities.
“We have different trucks and some vendors. It’s not as big as I was hoping, as some cancelled because of the long weekend, but it’s still a great time,” said Gail Hoffos, event co-ordinator with the Town ‘N’ Country Mall. “People are having fun, and we have free crafts, bead-making, face painting, and a sandbox. It was worth trying out.”
The event was created as part of the Town 'N' Country Mall's broader effort to engage with the public, bring people together, and return to its status as a thriving community destination.
“The Town ‘N’ Country Mall really wants to start working with the community and holding more community events. What better way to kick it off, right?” she added.
While this was the first time Hoffos and the mall team had organized such an event, it wasn't tied to the “Touch-a-Truck” event held around September each year downtown. “This is the absolute first time I've ever tried this, and we’re really separate from ‘Touch-a-Truck’ downtown,” Hoffos clarified, explaining the similarity that many guests noticed was merely a coincidence.
The event featured around 10 vehicles for young guests to explore, including a fire truck from the Moose Jaw Fire Department, Moose Jaw Police Service police cruiser, a Walker’s Towing tow truck, Babich Farms combine, Medavie Health Services West ambulance, and the Moose Jaw Search and Rescue response vehicle.
Additionally, vendors set up stations offering treats such as cotton candy, ice cream, and face painting. The Five Hills Chito Ryo Karate Club was on site to offer barbecued hot dogs and children enjoyed bouncing around in two inflatable castles. For families with sensory-sensitive children, there was a dedicated hour from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to provide a more comfortable experience for all attendees. Despite some cancellations and a slightly reduced vendor attendance due to the long weekend, Hoffos said she was pleased with the turnout.
“It’s still absolutely amazing,” she said. “We’ve had a good crowd, and it’s all about having fun.”
Hoffos is hopeful that “Truck-a-Palooza” will become a regular tradition at the mall, and the successful first event held to a backdrop of partly cloudy skies and sunshine, blaring horns, and smiling faces proved that her hope is well-founded.
“We just want people to come out to a free event and have some fun — that’s what we’re all about,” she said.
To learn more about upcoming activities at the mall, visit TownNCountryMJ.com, “Town N Country Mall” on Facebook, or call 306-693-1711.
