The first day of school will be here before you know it! Here’s a list of free back to school events to get you in the spirit. We’ve included parties, events, crafts, and even where to get freebies like school supplies and hair cuts. Just don’t forget an apple for the teacher!
Photo by Jessica Gollub
Home Depot Kids Workshop: Skateboard Pencil Box
August 6 from 9 a.m. – noon | The Home Depot; locations vary
Join a FREE hands-on workshop where you and your child can build a rolling skateboard pencil case just in time for back to school. Once the pencil box is built, your child can decorate it with The Home Depot stickers.
AISD Back to School Bash
August 6 from 9 a.m. to noon | Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin
Receive a FREE backpack filled with school supplies, while supplies last. AISD student must be present.
Austin Creative Reuse Back to School Tax-Free Shopping Day
August 6 at 10 a.m. | Austin Creative Reuse Center, 6406 N IH35 #1801, Austin
Kids can enjoy a FREE craft activity while adults shop for school and craft supplies, tax free!
Back to School Bash with Microsoft (RSVP)
August 13 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Microsoft Store – The Domain, 3309 Esperanza Crossing #104, Austin
Want to help make your summer memories last? Select your favorite summer experience and create a story in SWAY for FREE! Bring your completed story to the Microsoft Store on Saturday, August 13th, anytime between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and tell them about your summer to win some back to school goodies. There will be other back to school activities, including hourly raffle prizes, for the whole family. Plus, get 10% off your purchase that day.
Mueller Back to School Bash
August 13 from 10 a.m. – noon | Browning Hangar at Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Central Dr, Austin
Kick off the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year with a Back to School Bash! This FREE, family-friendly festival will include snacks, games, and free school supplies.
Kutz 4 Kidz (Round Rock)
August 14 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Round Rock High School, 201 Deep Wood Drive, Round Rock
Students who attend RRISD schools will receive a FREE haircut and free school supplies, free food and free wellness checks, while supplies last.
16th Annual School Resource Fair & School Supply Distribution (Manor)
August 19 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Manor New Tech High School cafeteria, 10323 US Hwy 290 E, Manor
Free school supplies will be available for Manor ISD students during the event. Please support the district by donating 2-3 canned food items to replenish the Manor ISD Food Pantry.
Back to School Fair at Montopolis
August 20 from 8 a.m. to noon | Montopolis Recreation Center, 1200 Montopolis Dr, Austin
FREE backpacks, school supplies, and healthy snacks, while supplies last.
Back 2 School Bash & Stuff the Bus (Cedar Creek)
August 20 from 8:30-10:30am (Stuff the Bus at 8 a.m.) | Memorial Stadium, 755 Hwy 21, Cedar Creek
Bastrop Independent School District hosts an annual Back to School Bash and Stuff the Bus school supply distribution to kick off the upcoming school year! The event is always held the Saturday before school starts at the beautiful BISD Memorial Stadium in Cedar Creek. Thanks to generous community partners and fundraisers at local businesses, Stuff the Bus will provide 1,400 backpacks with school supplies to Pre K-8th grade students on a first come, first serve basis. Students must be present to receive a backpack with school supplies. For the Back to School Bash, all games, activities and food will be available FREE of charge for all attendees. Vendors will include businesses, civic and nonprofit groups, BISD campuses, governmental agencies and local organizations.
Clothing Exchange and Donation Drive
August 20 from 9 a.m. to noon | First Baptist Church, 9th & Trinity, Austin
Swap clothes, shoes and accessories you no longer wear for new-to-you items!
Back to School Bash at Dove Springs
August 20 from 10 a.m. to noon | Dove Springs Recreation Center, 5801 Ainez Dr, Austin
Join Dove Springs Rec Center for a FREE Back to School Bash!
Back to School Festival
August 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Delco Center, 4601 Pecan Brook Dr, Austin
El Mundo’s annual Back to School event provides valuable community resources to the public, related to education, health and wellness, nutrition, and more. Enjoy backpack and school supply giveaways, vaccines, health screenings, vision screenings, raffles & door prizes, a resource fair community event, music & entertainment, fun for kids, snacks, and family fun. The event is FREE and open to the entire community.
Back to School Fair at Gus Garcia
August 20 from 10 a.m. – noon | Gus Garcia Rec Center, 1201 E Rundberg Ln, Austin
Join Easter Seals for their 3rd annual Back to School Fair. The event is open to the public and will be a chance for families to receive FREE high-quality school supplies and information from local organizations. There will be free backpacks for all grade levels, information and resources to start the school year off on the right foot, healthy snacks, games and activities for all ability levels, including rock climbing, balloon animals, face painting, bubbles and more.
Back to School Storytime
August 20 from 11:30 a.m. | BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar, Austin
The smell of freshly sharpened pencils is in the air, which can only mean one thing: school’s about to start! Some of us are even heading off to school for the very first time, which can be scary and exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. So to calm some of those first day butterflies, BookPeople friends will be reading School’s First Day of School along with other stories all about school!
Back to School Splash Bash
August 20 from 1-3 p.m. | TownLake YMCA, 1100 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin
TownLake YMCA is hosting a Back to School Splash Bash with a bounce house, snacks, drinks, games, and more FREE fun for the whole family. This event is FREE and open to the public, so invite your friends.
Back to School Bash
August 20 from noon-6 p.m. | Recycled Reads Book Store, 5335 Burnet Rd, Austin
Celebrate the beginning of the school year with a Media Corral, make upcycled t-shirt bags with Blythe from Re-sourcery, and learn how to make healthy, zero waste lunches with Josh Blaine from in.gredients. They will be collecting school supplies for Workers Defense Project as well.
Free Back to School Haircuts (K-12th)
August 21 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Trinity Abundant Life Church, 412 Cumberland Rd, Austin
Free haircuts for kids in grades K-12. Learn more and confirm event details here.
Want to donate school supplies? Check out this post by GivingCity Austin!
