INDIANAPOLIS — The Third Annual IPS Back-to-School Festival, hosted by Indianapolis Public Schools and the Indiana Historical Society, runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 3 at the Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St. There will be free backpacks, school supplies and free food to help welcome students into a new school year that begins August 5 for most district students.
In addition to the freebies, various IPS departments will be on-site to help with everything from enrollment to special needs services, transportation and community engagement.
Local organizations will be on hand to share programming available for students throughout the school year and beyond. Those organizations include: Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA, Indy Parks, Gleaners, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Art With a Heart, and 100 Black Men.
IndyGo will be there to talk about the expanded IPS & IndyGo Pilot Program for the 2019-20 school year for students at Arsenal Tech, Crispus Attucks, George Washington and Shortridge high schools. The program offers free yearly IndyGo bus passes to students.
Longtime IPS community partner Radio One will play music throughout the day and distribute free Cuts and Curls for Kids vouchers, which can be redeemed with local hairstylists and barbers.