Junior League of New Orleans’ 15th annual TOUCH-A-TRUCK® rolls into a bigger home this year at the Alario Center

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – The Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) announces the return of TOUCH-A-TRUCK®, presented by Ochsner Children's and American Safety, Saturday, Nov. 14 at a new larger location: the Alario Center in Westwego. This family-friendly event gives children of all ages a chance to have a hands-on experience with more than 20 trucks, machines and vehicles that build, serve and protect the Greater New Orleans community.

The move to the Alario Center gives TOUCH-A-TRUCK® more room to grow with space for more vehicles and an improved event flow. From helicopters to bulldozers, fire engines to utility trucks, TOUCH-A-TRUCK® lets kids climb, explore and learn about the machines and meet community heroes who keep our city safe and strong. 

Doors open to all guests at 10 a.m., with VIP early access beginning at 9 a.m. Families can enjoy the event throughout the day, with a special sensory-friendly hour at 2 p.m. ensuring an inclusive environment where all loud noises and bright lights are turned off so children can comfortably explore the vehicles.

“There is something really special about watching a child climb into a fire truck, sit behind the wheel of a big rig, or discover a vehicle they’ve only ever seen from a distance,” said JLNO president, Shelby Wynne. “The move to the Alario Center gives us more room to create those moments for families across Greater New Orleans while continuing to grow an event that supports JLNO’s work in our community.”

Through JLNO's Hard Hat Helpers program, community members can help open the gates of TOUCH-A-TRUCK® to students from underserved schools. Donations fund Field Trip Friday on Nov. 13, giving hundreds of local children the chance to experience the excitement and wonder of the event at no cost, an unforgettable day that may not otherwise be possible. Families looking to make the day even more special can rev up the fun with a TOUCH-A-TRUCK® Birthday Party, the ultimate celebration for kids who love trucks, machines and adventure.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK® is made possible thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsors Ochsner Children’s and American Safety, with additional support from Raising Cane’s, New Orleans Tours, and more.

Tickets and VIP access are available at jlno.org/touch-a-truck.

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About Junior League New Orleans

Junior League of New Orleans is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. More information on the organization can be found at www.jlno.org

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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