7 events to make back-to-school season fun - for parents and kids

Back-to-school season can be stressful for the children heading back to school, the parents sending them and everyone else involved.

If you’ve got the back to school blues, check out these events that will ease the burden of back-to-school shopping and help you celebrate when it’s all finished.

Here’s three events for the kiddos needing backpacks, school supplies or one last taste of summertime fun before heading to the classroom:

Cross Point Free Will Baptist Church Back-to-School Bash

Families can grab lunch and school supplies for free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Cross Point Free Will Baptist Church, 1515 E. Harry. The church’s fifth annual Back to School Bash will have more than 1,000 backpacks with school supplies to give away. Shoes will be given away while supplies last. The event is for families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade and the child must be present to receive supplies.

Towne East Square Back to School

Take a break from back-to-school shopping at the Towne East Mall to celebrate the start of another school year with a photo booth, a DJ, backpack giveaways and more. The mall, 7700 E. Kellogg, will host a free back-to-school event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in front of the lower level of Sears. Wichita State University’s WuShock mascot will be there from 1 to 2 p.m., along with WSU cheerleaders, the Kansas Aviation Museum and the Wichita Public Library.

Back-to-School Food Drive Swim Party

Paxton’s Blessing Box, a group that sets up donated food and hygiene boxes throughout the community, is throwing a back-to-school swim party and food drive, 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Indian Hills Swim Club, 1158 N. Meridian. There will be a DJ, volleyball, basketball and swimming. Admission is $2 and those attending are encouraged to also bring nonperishable food items to stock the blessing boxes. There will be a cookout with food and drinks available for purchase, too.

The kids need their fun, but so do the parents. Here are four events for parents (or adult students) ready to unwind after prepping for the upcoming school year:

Ziggy’s Pizza Bags-2-School Tournament

Do you like tossing beanbags, eating pizza and supporting local breweries? Then you may want to stop by Ziggy’s Pizza from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday for its Bags-2-School cornhole tournament. Giveaways, like koozies and keychains, will be handed out from four featured breweries – Central Standard Brewing, Aero Plains Brewing, Walnut River Brewing Company and Hopping Gnome Brewing Company. There will be drink specials during the event and the first through third place teams will receive prizes. Check-in starts at 11:30 a.m. for the 16-team double elimination tournament and teams of two can sign up anytime before then by emailing david@ziggywichita.com. $10 buy-in per team.

Pumphouse Back-to-School Rockfest

The Banned, a Wichita rock band, will take the back patio stage at Pumphouse from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday to bring in the school year right. Pumphouse encourages teachers to come out and enjoy their last weekend out of the classroom, but all are welcome. Drink specials are $3 Redd’s Apple Ale and PBR tall boys, $4 fireball, $5 long islands and Patron. No cover before 9 p.m., after it’s $5.

Central Standard Brewing Back-to-School Mingle

Current and former teachers and students are welcome to come celebrate the importance of education in the community with a few beers and brats from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Central Standard Brewing’s Back-to-School Mingle. The Let Em Eat Brats food truck will be on site and there will be discounts on some local brews. Young Professionals of Wichita and Wichita Public Schools teamed up with the WSU Office of Workforce for the event. Free registration is available online at www.ypwichita.org.

Loony Bin Back-to-School Blowout

Need a laugh after ordering this semester’s textbooks or visiting three stores to find the right 24-pack of crayons on your kid’s supply list? At 8 p.m. Wednesday The Loony Bin, 215 N. St. Francis, will host a Back-to-School Comedy Show with Wichita comedians Dan the Man, Meghan Welch, Tim Maggard and others. The show is 18 and over and tickets are $6, available at the door or online at wichita.loonybincomedy.com.

This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 5:08 PM with the headline "7 events to make back-to-school season fun - for parents and kids."