2026 Back-to-School Weekend: Two Great Community Events to Help Families Get Ready for the School Year
As the first day of school quickly approaches, Albemarle County, Charlottesville, and surrounding area families have two fantastic opportunities on Sunday, August 9 to prepare for the new school year, the Albemarle Foundation for Education (AFE) and Albemarle County Public School’s (ACPS) 2026 Back to School Bash and the Kicks & Cuts Back 2 School Bash are joining forces! While both events share the goal of supporting students, they each offer different resources, making it possible for families to attend both and take advantage of everything available.
Start the day at the Kicks & Cuts Back 2 School Bash supported by Flow Toyota Charlottesville and organized by the 100 Cuts Initiative, 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, Mahogany and Friends Foundation, Prolyfyck Run Crew, the Uhuru Foundation, Dream Clothing, and the Charlottesville Alphas.
This event is from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Boys & Girls Club (1000 Cherry Avenue) and provides the following services and resources:
Haircuts and braiding
Hair glitter and nail painting
Brooks sneakers
Healthy snacks
Books
Meet-and-greets with UVA athletes and community leaders
Then, spend the afternoon at the ACPS-AFE Back to School Bash in partnership with the Albemarle County Office of Public Services Accessibility, Equity, and Inclusion, Blue Ridge Health District, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Communities in Schools NOVA, and United Way of Greater Charlottesville.
Beginning one hour later from 12:00 PM to 4 PM at the Fashion Square Mall (former JCPenney space), this event provides the following services and resources:
Backpacks and school supplies (families are asked to pre-register here)
Sports physicals
School immunizations
Hearing and vision screenings
Food, family-friendly activities, and giveaways
30+ resources table hosted by community organizations and schools with resources for all ages
Live performances by students and local artists such as AHS Jazz Band, Meraki, Susan Munson & Friends, and Paula Franco.
To help ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate, ACPS shuttle buses will provide transportation to the ACPS-AFE Back to School Bash on August 9, 2026. Buses will depart at 12:00 noon from Yancey School Community Center, Broadus Wood Elementary School, Crozet Library, and Southwood Community Center, and will return from the Fashion Square Mall at 3:30 p.m.
Both events are open to all families regardless of residence! Together, these events provide a well-rounded back-to-school experience, covering everything from fresh haircuts and new shoes to backpacks, school supplies, important health services, and community connections.
We look forward to welcoming families and helping ensure every student has the resources they need for a successful start to the new school year!