This weekend, the Touch-A-Truck event will return to the Norris Penrose Event Center at 945 Lower Gold Camp Road for the third straight year, with more vehicles, more giveaways and, if the past two years are any indication, more attendees.

The annual, interactive expo was suspended a few years ago when the host organization severed its relationship with Norris Penrose, but center officials believed there was enough community interest to resurrect it.

They had no idea how right they were.

“The first year, we expected about 1,000 people to show up, and about 7,000 came,” said event coordinator Dan Ferguson. “Last year, we planned on 7,000 people, and 12,000 showed up.”

This year, organizers expect as many as 15,000 people at the event, where children will have near-total access to about 120 local vehicles, including construction equipment, police/fire/military vehicles and Pikes Peak Hill Climb racecars.

“Kids will be able to come in with their families, climb inside the vehicles, flash the lights, and ask the drivers questions about the vehicles,” Ferguson said.

Young, aspiring business owners from the Children’s Entrepreneur Market will be selling homemade items, and multiple “swag” giveaways will ensure that no child leaves the event empty-handed.

The expo runs from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free, but tickets — available at norrispenrose.com — are required. This year, there will be timed entry to mitigate parking congestion and wait times, according to the website.

Attendees are asked to consider making a donation to support Friends of the Children, a nonprofit that mentors and supports at-risk youth.

“They support kids with incarcerated parents, kids who have been neglected, and other children who have fallen through the cracks in the system,” Ferguson said. “It’s a great organization.”

Children can sit in the vehicles and flash the lights, but parents are asked to help maintain a “horn-free” atmosphere to accommodate noise-sensitive visitors.

“It’s a great family event,” Ferguson said. “Everyone who walks in is going to walk out with a bunch of cool stuff, and a bunch of cool memories.”