Last Updated on July 9, 2025 10:37 am
[Boone, NC] – The 2025 Back 2 School Festival will be held on Saturday, August 9 atWatauga High School, continuing its mission to ensure every Watauga County student startsthe school year confident and prepared.
Nearly 40% of Watauga’s 4,600 public school students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and insome schools that number is even higher. As the average cost of school supplies climbs above$150 per child, many families are forced to make impossible choices between essentials likefood, rent, or getting their children ready for school.
The Back 2 School Festival was created to change that. Students will receive backpacks,notebooks, pencils, crayons, earbuds, shoes, and more—completely free of charge. Haircutswill also be offered throughout the day with appointments available on site.Families should attend during their school’s assigned time slot:
9:00 AM – Valle Crucis, Mabel, Bethel, Two Rivers10:30 AM – Hardin Park, Blowing Rock12:30 PM – Cove Creek, Parkway2:00 PM – Green Valley, Homeschoolers
High school students attend during their home district’s time slot. Homeschoolers must beregistered in Watauga County. Students must be physically present to receive shoes andhaircuts.
Last year, more than 1,800 students left the Back 2 School Festival with the tools they neededto start the new school year strong. This year, that number is expected to grow as local familiescontinue recovering from Hurricane Helene. Much of the festival’s back stock was distributed inthe aftermath of the storm to support not only students, but also linemen, emergencyresponders, and teachers across the county—including the entire Valle Crucis Schoolcommunity, whose building was destroyed.
“We’re so grateful for the way our community always shows up, ” said Festival Director Kendra Sink.“With our community's continued support, we’ve been able to meet theneeds of our students year after year. But after Hurricane Helene, our supplies are low,and we need support now more than ever to prepare for this year’s event.”
Want to Help?
The festival’s planning committee is inviting individuals, businesses, and organizations acrossthe High Country to help by donating, sponsoring, or volunteering:
Donate funds – 100% goes directly to supplies, backpacks, and shoes
Drop off school supplies – Pack the Bus is officially underway. Look for the yellow buses atFirst National Bank on 321 and Peak Insurance on 194 in Boone
Become a sponsor – Business and individual sponsorships have lasting impact
Volunteer – Sign up as an individual or bring a group
“At the heart of the Back 2 School Festival is our community’s unwavering support forour schoolchildren, ” said Media Coordinator Anna Floyd. “This event is about making sure every student feels seen, supported, and ready to take on a new school year. It’s one of the ways we show our children that we care and believe in their futures, and that every child deserves to go back to school feeling confident and prepared.”
Those interested in supporting this year’s festival—through donations, supplies, orsponsorship—can visit www.back2schoolfest.org. Every contribution helps ensure thatWatauga County students have the confidence and resources they need to thrive this schoolyear.
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