Northeast Georgia Back-to-School Events Guide

NORTHEAST GEORGIA — From backpack giveaways and free haircuts to community festivals and school supply drives, organizations across Northeast Georgia are helping families prepare for the start of the 2026-27 school year.

The following events are organized alphabetically by county, city and date.

Banks County

Banks Crossing

Back to School Bash
July 25: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Tanger Outlets Commerce
Families can enjoy free face painting, caricature art, inflatables and photo opportunities with Blue, a life-sized velociraptor. Visitors also can shop back-to-school sales and stock up on school essentials during the event.

Commerce

Back to School Bash
Aug. 1: 6-9 p.m. | Blacks Creek Baptist Church
Families can enjoy games, live worship, free haircuts, dinner, backpacks and a fireworks show during this community back-to-school celebration. Free backpacks will be available for students.

Homer

Meddy Bear’s Back-to-School Luau
Aug. 15: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | MedLink Banks, 3841 Maysville Road
Hosted by MedLink Georgia and Peach State Health Plan, this free luau-themed event features school supplies, games, prizes, a bounce house, food trucks, sweet treats, free ice pops, community resources and family activities. School supplies will be distributed while supplies last.

Barrow County

Winder

Back-to-BOLD
July 24: 5-7 p.m. | Apalachee High School
Hosted by Barrow County School System, this free event features backpacks with school supplies, immunizations, a mobile library, books for young children, school bus tours, transportation information, school nutrition assistance and mental health resources. Supplies are available while they last.

5th Annual Barber & Beauty Back-to-School Event
July 26: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Wimberly Center
Families can receive free hair braiding, hairstyles, haircuts, school supplies, food, health screenings and other services. Appointments are required.

Free Back-to-School Haircuts
July 26: 2-5 p.m. | Barrow County Sheriff’s Office
Students can receive free back-to-school haircuts during this community event hosted by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.

Clarke County

Athens

Back to School Jam
July 25: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Georgia Square Mall
Families can enjoy free back-to-school activities while shopping for school essentials during this community event.

Back to School Bash
Aug. 1: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 2900 County Farm Road
Hosted by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, this free community event for school-aged children features backpacks, school supplies, free haircuts, simple braid styles, food, music and other family-friendly activities. Advance registration is required.

Back-to-School Giveaway
Aug. 1: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | El Carretonero
Hosted by GTI Athens, this community event offers free back-to-school supplies for students while supplies last.

Back 2 School Event
Aug. 2: 6-7 p.m. | Sunset Drive
Families can enjoy a community back-to-school event as students prepare for the new school year.

Back to School Bash
Aug. 5: 6-7:30 p.m. | New Covenant Athens
New Covenant Athens will host a family-friendly back-to-school celebration as students prepare for the start of the school year.

Franklin County

Carnesville

Back-to-School Bash
July 26: Noon-7 p.m. | Cross Roads Baptist Church, 16144 Ga. Highway 59
Families can receive free school supplies and enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, inflatables and other family activities during this community celebration. The event begins immediately following the church’s morning worship service.

Habersham County

Clarkesville

First Presbyterian Back-to-School Festival
July 25: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church
Families can enjoy free backpacks, school supplies, food, a DJ, face painting, a bounce house and other activities. Backpacks will be distributed while supplies last.

Hart County

Bowersville

Back-to-School Community Bash
July 27: 2-6 p.m. | 2999 Bowersville Highway
Multiple businesses, organizations and churches will provide free school supplies, a hot dog supper and family activities during this community back-to-school event. Children must be present to receive school supplies, which will be distributed while supplies last.

Hartwell

Hart County Back-to-School Blast
July 25: 10 a.m.-noon | Hart County High School Gym
Students can receive free school supplies for every grade level during this community event hosted by the Hart County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Hart County Schools. Kona Ice also will be available.

Jackson County

Jefferson

Back to School Community Event
July 25: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | 195 Gordon St.
Hosted by Beyond Words Church, More Than Fame and the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson, this community event features a giveaway of 200 book bags, bounce houses, games, music, prizes, food and family activities. Backpacks are available while supplies last.

Maysville

Back to School Big Event
July 25: 9 a.m.-noon | Maysville Baptist Church Gym
Families can receive free backpacks, school supplies and gently used clothing for K-12 students. The church’s Clothing Closet also will be open to help families prepare for the new school year.

Madison County

Danielsville

M.A.R.T.’s Back-to-School Rally
July 29: 5-7 p.m. | Madison County School System Agricultural Center, 175 Hope Thompson Lane
Hosted by the Madison Area Resource Team, this annual event provides free backpacks and school supplies for low-income Madison County students in pre-K through 12th grade. Families also can enjoy a hot dog supper, a resource fair and door prizes. Pre-registration is encouraged, but on-site registration will be available.

Stephens County

Toccoa

GODGANG Back 2 School Bash
July 25: 1 p.m. | Christ Fellowship Church
Families can receive free backpacks, school supplies, clothing, shoes, hygiene items and Bibles while supplies last. The event also features a free concert, prayer, family activities and community resources for all ages.

Towns County

Hiawassee

Back to School Supply Drive
Through July 31: During business hours | RE/MAX Town & Country
RE/MAX Town & Country is collecting new school supplies to benefit students in need. Donations of backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, headphones and other classroom essentials may be dropped off through July 31.

Union County

Blairsville

Back-to-School Shoe Event
July 30: 9 a.m.-noon or Aug. 3: 1-3 p.m. | Union County Family Connection Office
Sponsored by Family Connection and River City Bank, this event provides free new athletic shoes for school-aged children before the start of the school year.

White County

Cleveland

Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive
Through July 24: During Walmart business hours | Walmart
The White County School System is collecting donated school supplies for local students in need. Community members can help “Stuff the Bus” by dropping off new school supplies through July 24.

Awana Back to School Bash
Aug. 12: 6:30 p.m. | White County Recreation Department Splash Pad
Friendship Baptist Church will host a splash pad party and Awana registration for the 2026-27 program year. Families can enjoy burgers, hot dogs, drinks, fellowship and fun while children cool off at the splash pad.

Habersham County schools providing classroom supplies

Families in Habersham County won’t need to purchase many traditional classroom supplies this year.

Through the school district’s Habersham Ready initiative, essential classroom supplies will be provided to all K-12 students before classes begin Aug. 7.

“We are, once again, able to supply classroom/school supplies for all K-12 students,” Assistant Superintendent David Leenman told Now Georgia. “Items such as notebooks, paper, colored pencils, scissors, etc. will be provided. Personal items such as headphones, water bottles, and book bags will not be provided as students like to pick their own.”