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Students shared their dreams at the Mayor\u2019s Back to School Fair on Aug. 7, 2026, at Fair Park in Dallas.<\/p>\n
Steve Nurenberg\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Jolee Bronner, 3, fished a grape lollipop out of her tote bag<\/a> and looked eagerly up at her mother, Jocelyn Bronner, for permission to open it.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Jocelyn said. \u201cIt\u2019s too early in the morning for candy.\u201d<\/p>\n It was 9 a.m. Friday, but Jocelyn, 34, and Jolee had been at the Mayor\u2019s Back to School Fair since 6 a.m. The annual event invites Dallas families to get school supplies, haircuts, health screenings and more ahead of the first week of school \u2013 all for free.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Dallas ISD goes\u00a0back to school<\/a> on Tuesday along with Plano and Irving. Fort Worth ISD<\/a> starts school Monday. Tax-free weekend<\/a> runs through Sunday.<\/p>\n Families gather all types of supplies at the Back to School Fair on Friday, August 7, 2026 at Fair Park in Dallas.<\/p>\n Steve Nurenberg\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Related<\/strong>: D-FW parents plan to outspend U.S. average on back-to-school shopping, according to a new survey<\/a><\/p>\n Dozens of vendors lined the Centennial Building in Fair Park, distributing everything from notebooks to backpacks to diapers. A large area was roped off for five-minute health screenings, and parents watched as their children got their hair cut across the aisle.\u00a0<\/p>\n Free haircuts were one of the services available at Fair Park on Friday. School starts for Dallas ISD on Tuesday, Aug. 11.<\/p>\n Steve Nurenberg\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n It was Jocelyn\u2019s first time attending the fair, as\u00a0Jolee starts pre-K this year. They came for school supplies, but were pleasantly surprised with jump ropes, Hula-Hoops and other games laid out for the children.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn’t expecting this many visitors,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Related<\/strong>: Parents pushed for less screen time in schools. Richardson ISD listened<\/a><\/p>\n This year, over 13,000 students registered for the fair, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said at the event, which marked its 30th anniversary. While all Dallas-area families with children in school were welcome, the fair prioritized those who met federal poverty guidelines, which is $62,400 in annual income for a family of four.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand that we don’t have a city without our kids,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cSo we want to make sure opportunity is not just a buzzword, but it’s a real thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Students received free school supplies at the 30th Mayor\u2019s Back to School Fair on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Fair Park in Dallas.<\/p>\n Steve Nurenberg\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n When asked if she was excited to start school, Jolee nodded rapidly and beamed.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n About 5,000 families were registered for the event, and the line twisted and turned all the way through Fair Park. Parents and children began lining up as early as 5 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related<\/strong>: A new Texas law requires high schoolers to take personal finance. Here’s what it could look like<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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