As the back-to-school season approaches, families in our community are looking for fun ways to celebrate and prepare for the upcoming academic year. To help with this, we've put together a list of upcoming back-to-school bashes that are perfect for families with children of all ages. From fun games and activities to educational resources and giveaways, these bashes offer something for everyone. Check out our list and get ready to make some great memories with your family before the 2023-2024 School Year starts!

Florida Back to School Sales Tax Holiday from July 24th to August 6th, 2023.

Central Florida Health Care Back-2-School FREE Vaccines Locations

Polk County

Back to School Bash at Harvest Church

• Dates: July 21st, 22nd, 23rd
• Times: 5PM-8PM
• Location: Harvest Assembly Church - 2120 Airport Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811
• Outdoor activities will be from 5PM-6:30PM and then Kidz Xplosion service with games and prizes will begin at 6:30PM. Backpacks will be given away each night. There will be hotdogs, drinks, jump houses, a rock wall, face painting, snow-cones and more! 

Splash Bash of the Summer

• Date: Saturday, July 22nd from 10AM-1PM
• Location: Myers and Wiley Field - 915 Ave E, Haines City, FL
• Bring your swim trunks and be ready for a fun-filled day with water slides, foam party, music, water activities and drinks/snacks. receive school items.

Team Pouncey Car Show & Kids Zone

• Date: Saturday, July 22nd from 9:30AM-6PM
• Location: Maddox Ranch - 2211 W. Bella Vista, Lakeland, FL 33810
• Kids 12 & under free, inflatables flag football, school supplies giveaway. 

Back to School Bash with Polk Sheriff's Charities

• Date: Saturday, July 22nd from 10AM-1PM
• Location: 2800 US-98, Bartow, FL 33830
• Bookbags and school supplies will be given away. There will also be photo ops, face painting, balloon artist, food trucks, games, activities, treats available. Child must be present to receive school items.

Back 2 School Bash with Meaningful Movement Group

• Date: Friday, July 28th from 12PM-6PM
• Location: Winter Haven Recreational and Cultural Center - 801 Avenue T NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881
• Free school supplies will be provided along with haircuts, food and games for everyone. Special guest host "Publix's Plato" and the Winter Haven Fire Department will be there putting on a smoke show.

Polk State Start Right Campaign Backpack and School Supply Giveaway

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 9AM-11AM
• Location: Polk State JD Alexander Center - 152 E Central Avenue, Lake Wales, FL 33853
• Free backpack and school supplies giveaway along with a food pantry, food trucks, free haircuts and a car show.

Auburndale Back 2 School Bash

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 9AM-1PM
• Location: Auburndale Community Center - 405 Bennett St. Auburndale, FL 33823
• Free school supplies and services with games and bounce houses.

Back to School - Polk County Parks & Recreation

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 10AM-12PM
• Location: Winter Haven Wilfred Smight Resource Center - 135 Ave Y NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881
• This event is for families with children Kindergarten through 5th grade. There will be arts, crafts, games, prizes along with a 400 backpacks and supplies for eligible students (first come, first serve and limited to one per child).

Copeland's Complete Construction School Supply Drive

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 10AM-4PM
• Location: Copeland Complete Construction - 551 Old Dixie Highway, Auburndale, FL 33823
• Bags of school supplies will be given out and child must be present to receive a bag.

Family Fun Day with Bridge Church

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 10AM-1PM
• Location: Winter Haven Central Park - 469 W Central Ave, Winter Haven, FL 33881
• Free school bags and supplies will be given out. There will also be music, games, food, inflatables and more!

Lake Hamilton Back to School Splash

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 11AM-2PM
• Location: Lake Hamilton Town Hall - 100 Smith Ave, Lake Hamilton, FL33851
• 100 Backpacks with supplies and teacher raffles will be given out. There will be hot dogs, chips and drinks. Bring a towel for the waterslide. 

Back to School at Florida Technical College

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 11AM-1PM
• Location: Florida Technical College - Lakeland Campus - 4715 Florida Ave South #4, Lakeland, FL 33813
• Free backpacks with school supplies along with an electronic device raffles, Hot 101.5 Broadcasting Live on Campus, family activites, community partners, program demonstrations and campus tours available. Reservation of a ticket to the event does not guarantee the provision of a backpack. Limited quantities available and are first come, first served. Child must be present with an adult/guardian to receive a backpack.

Neighborhood Service Center's Summer Festival

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 10AM-2PM
• Location: 608 Avenue S NE, Winter Haven, FL
• Back to School supplies, health and wellness fair, free food and groceries, vendors, water games and more! Host with be Jason Alexander (Smart Mouth).

Back to School Event with Cricket and Bounce Boy, Inc.

• Date: Saturday, July 29th from 12PM-3PM
• Location: Historic Lawrence Brown House - 470 S L.B. Brown Ave, Bartow, FL 33830
• Estimated 600+ backpacks and school supplies will be handed out along with vendors, bounce house and other interactive activities for the entire family.

Back to School with Coastal Party Rentals

• Date: Sunday, July 30th from 10AM-2PM
• Location: Lake Eva Park - 555 Ledwith Ave, Haines City, FL 33844
• 200 Backpacks with school supplies given away along with bounce house, face painting, character appearance, local vendors for back-to-school shopping and food trucks. Registration is required - register here.

Back to School Bash at First Baptist Church of Frostproof

• Date: Sunday, July 30th from 9:45AM-12PM
• Location: First Baptist Church of Frostproof - 96 W B St. Frostproof, FL 33843
• This is event is for families with children from preschool to youth. There will be breakfast, games, school supplies, Bible story and ice cream sundaes.

Back 2 School Clothing Giveaway - Greater Works Ministries

• Date: Sunday, July 30th at 2PM
• Location: Lake Maude Park - 1751 7th St NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881

Back to School at the Florida Children's Museum

• Date: Monday, July 31, 2023 from 10AM-5PM
• Location: Florida Children's Museum - 600 Bonnet Springs Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33815
• Prep for school with a FREE day of hands-on learning. Explore museum exhibits, scope out the weather with Spectrum News, and visit their Black Box Theatre for insider tips on Field Trips. 

Back to School Health & Safety Event at Bonnet Springs

• Date: Wednesday, August 2nd from 9AM-12PM
• Location: CJB Children's Resource Center - 650 Bonnet Springs Blvd. Lakeland
• Free vision and hearing screenings, vaccinations, information about tutoring services, notary services, bike helmet fittings, poison information, DNA kits and more!

Nick & Moe's Back to School Bash

• Date: Thursday, August 3rd from 4PM-7PM
• Location: 4410 Kathleen Road, Lakeland
• Back pack giveaway with school supplies. Fun for the whole family including giveaways and bounce houses.

Downtown Lakeland's August First Friday

• Date: Friday, August 4th from 6PM-9PM
• Location: Downtown Lakeland - 100 N Kentucky Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801
• Lakeland Moonwalk Inflatables, rock climbing games, Downtown Shops and restaurants open later, food trucks, classy car show, school supply giveaway.

Back to School Bash at Lake Eva

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 10AM-2PM
• Location: Lake Eva Event Center - 799 Johns Ave, Haines City, FL 33844

Back to School Health & Wellness Fair 

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 9AM-1PM
• Location: 1303 33rd St. NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
• Families with children in Grades K-12. Backpack giveaway, school phsyical, spinal checks, spiritual counseling, mental health counseling, pediatrician dental check.

Jiles Law, P.A. Backpack Drive-Thru

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 9AM
• Location: Jiles Law, P.A. - 601 W Central Ave, Winter Haven, FL
• Swingby & pick up a backpack filled with supplies before the upcoming school year begins! Supplies included on a first come, first served basis. Parents ensure that teen or child is in the vehicle when picking up. 

Back to School Bash at Eagle Ridge Mall

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 12PM-4PM
• Location: Eagle Ridge Mall - 414 Eagle Ridge Dr. Lake Wales, FL33859
• Enjoy the tax-free shopping, browse through selection of school supplies like paper, pens, pencils, school bags and more!

Florida Blue Back to School Event

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 10AM-1PM
• Location: Florida Blue Center - 385 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven, FL
• Fun-filled morning with school supply giveaways and learn about member perks & community resources. Onsite physicals will be available but you must RSVP. 

Back to School Bash at Florida Welcome Center

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 8AM-12PM
• Location: Central Florida's Visitor Information Center - 101 Adventure Ct. Davenport, FL 33837
• Free backpacks will be given out to the first 500 students (child must be present). There will also be vendors and a chance to win Bok Tower Gardens, LEGOLAND Florida tickets and other student friendly giveaways.

Mulberry Back to School Bash

• Date: Sunday, August 6th from 4PM-8PM
• Location: Mulberry Civic Center - 901 NE 5th St. Mulberry, FL 33860
• Uniform pickups, backpacks and supply giveaway, face painting, hotdogs, popcorn, Subway cookies, crafts, books and more!

Hardee County

Hardee Help Center

• Help with school supplies for Hardee County students (K-12)
• Pre-registration is required. No walk-ins. Appointments required - Individual School Supply Requests

Cricket Back to School Vendor Event

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 10AM-5PM
• Location: Wauchula Cricket - 130 N 6th Ave. Wauchula, FL
• Bookbag and school supplies giveaway, raffling of FREE speaker and vendors will be present.

Highlands County

Backpack Sunday at First Baptist of Lake Josephine

• Date: Sunday, July 23rd from 10:30AM-12PM
• Location: First Baptist of Lake Josephine - 111 Lake Josephine Dr. Sebring, FL
• Giving way 225 backpacks with supplies along with free lunch, haircuts and a bounce house.

Bountiful Blessings Back to School Event

• Date: Saturday, August 5th from 11AM
• Location: Bountiful Blessings - 820 MLK Jr. Blvd. Sebring, FL
• Free food, backpacks & supplies, community resources, prayer and more!