POULSBO — It’s been said that the only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys.

Saturday’s Touch A Truck in Poulsbo Village might have proved this as the 18th annual event provided an opportunity for boys and girls of all ages to climb into the driver’s seats, honk a few horns and envision life as a police officer, firefighter or tow truck driver.

“I really liked the working trucks,” said 6-year-old Jacob Bockus of Puyallup, who was taking in his first Touch A Truck.

Though the honking horns reached extreme decibels, it was still a great time, Bockus said.

“It’s very loud, but I had a lot of fun,” Bockus said.

Even in the back of her ambulance, Poulsbo Fire Department emergency medical technician Alison Fresh wasn’t sheltered from the ear-piecing blasts of horns from nearby tow trucks and garbage trucks.

“I’ve been doing this for three years so far, and I really enjoy seeing the kids,” Fresh said

The event is important because it allows children to interact with firefighters and police officers in a friendly environment, where they can ask questions and get to know emergency personnel, she said.

“It helps build trust and they get to ask all kinds of unusual questions,” Fresh said, adding that while she’s often asked how much blood she sees on the job, other questions are raised as well.

The event has become an annual tradition for Joey Frantlm, who was helping kids climb into the Kitsap Towing tow truck driven by his father, Kevin.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 5 and I’m 15 now,” Joey Frantlm said, noting that his favorite part of the event is seeing everyone tour the different trucks and honk the horns. “This is something I’m around every day, but not many people are. This lets people do something they normally wouldn’t be able to do.”

Crews from Embarq were also in Poulsbo Village displaying their new logo and utility truck as well as serving snow cones and giving away frisbees and other goodies.

“We have a core group that is really committed to this event, and we enjoy interacting with our customers in Poulsbo,” said Embarq communications manager Jeffrey Dennison.

Embarq, which was formerly known as Sprint, has been a permanent fixture at the event for several years and plans to continue that legacy in the future, Dennison said.

“It’s good community service, and it’s good for business,” Dennison said as another loud horn blast echoed through the Village.