From Houston to the Rio Grande Valley, communities are throwing open the doors with free supplies, haircuts, health screenings, and plain old family fun to get kids ready for the 2026-27 school year.
Multiple cities statewide, July 24 through August 1
Summer’s winding down, and Texas is showing up for its students. Communities across the state are hosting backpack giveaways, health fairs, and family bashes this week and next, and most of them cost you nothing but a Saturday morning.
Katy kicks things off Friday, July 25 at 5 p.m. at Katy Manor North Park, located at the corner of Stockdick and Katy Hockley Cut Off Road behind La Michoacana in the 77493 zip code. The Back to School Bazaar and School Supply Drive brings custom signs and decor, fresh baked goods, hair and nail services, face painting, notary services, party and vacation planning help, and Dippin’ Dots, all under one roof.
Houston goes big the same day. The City of Houston’s Mayor’s Back 2 School & Health Fair returns for its 16th year Saturday, Aug. 1 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where organizers expect to hand out free backpacks stuffed with supplies to roughly 20,000 elementary students. Families can also grab health screenings and immunizations while they’re there. Register ahead of time if you can. Over in Southwest Houston, a Big Back to School Drive hands out more than 5,000 backpacks alongside a food pantry, health fair, and business expo Saturday, July 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Houston suburbs are just as busy. Conroe ISD throws its Back to School Bash Saturday, July 25 at 9 a.m. at Conroe High School, with free backpacks, free haircuts, snacks, and community resources on hand. Families in Cy-Fair can head to the Cy-Fair Helping Hands Back to School Bash for supplies, books, and family activities, and East Montgomery County families can swing by the EMCID Back to School Drive-Thru for 2,500 free supply packs covering prekindergarten through eighth grade.
San Antonio families have several stops to choose from this week. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute’s Bring Your Own Backpack event runs Friday, July 24 from 4 to 6 p.m., where you bring an empty backpack and leave with it full of supplies while they last. Broken & Restored Outreach Ministry hosts its Back to School Giddyup Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to noon, free with registration.
Down in the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen ISD throws its Back to School Bash Monday, July 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at McAllen High School, with free school supplies, free breakfast and lunch for ages 1 to 18, free physicals, immunizations, haircuts, and backpacks while supplies last.
Central Texas communities aren’t sitting this one out either. PCHAS hosts a Back to School Bash Tuesday, July 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. for families in Limestone and Freestone Counties, with school supply giveaways, bounce houses, and local resources.
Up in Texarkana, the 2nd Annual Community Back to School Bash lands Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at Razorback Stadium, with live entertainment, bounce houses, face painting, and a free backpack and school supply giveaway for families across all local school districts.
Whatever corner of Texas you call home, chances are there’s a bash, bazaar, or drive-thru nearby ready to help lighten the load before the first bell rings. Grab the kids, bring an empty backpack, and go say hello to your neighbors while you’re at it.
