Dallas and Tarrant County are holding annual back-to-school events today to help families prepare for the new school year with free supplies, health screenings, and community resources.
The Dallas Mayor’s 30th Annual Back to School Fair and the 20th annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup provide practical support as students return to class in the coming weeks.
Both events are open to local families and aim to ease the cost of school preparation.
Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is hosting the city’s 30th annual event on Friday at Fair Park (3809 Grand Avenue). The fair runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers free backpacks and grade-appropriate school supplies, health, dental, and vision screenings, haircuts, and access to community resource booths.
According to organizers, the event has served more than 10,000 families annually since it began in 1996. Families were encouraged to register in advance, though walk-ins are accepted. Priority is given to Dallas residents and Dallas ISD students meeting income guidelines.
I’m at Fair Park this morning for our 30th annual Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair! Today, we are passing out school supplies, backpacks, and everything else students need for the upcoming school year—all for free! As a longstanding pillar of Dallas’s back-to-school traditions,… pic.twitter.com/EDFAA4qo7l
— Mayor Eric L. Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) August 7, 2026
Mayor Johnson said the fair has grown into a comprehensive community effort. “It started off as a basic school supply drive and now… it’s turned into a full blown deal where we’ve got hundreds of vendors and we’ve got everything under the sun that you could possibly need,” he told Fox 4.
Tarrant County Back to School Roundup
The 20th annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup is taking place at Tarrant County College South Campus (5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth) on Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-registered families receive free school supplies, backpacks, health services, immunizations, haircuts, and connections to community organizations.
Organizers expect more than 3,000 students and family members. Walk-ins are accepted beginning at noon on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Eligible families must live in Tarrant County and meet federal poverty guidelines.
“For 20 years, this event has been a powerful reminder of what our community can accomplish when we come together for our students,” said Letty Salinas, president of the Tarrant County Back to School Roundup Board of Directors, per NBC DFW.
Broader Context
These events coincide with the start of Texas’ annual Sales Tax Holiday, which runs Friday through Sunday and exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 from state and local sales tax, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
School districts and parents across the Dallas-Fort Worth area continue preparing for the 2026-27 academic year.
Provided by Dallas Express
