Back To School Bash

The Hickory Recreation and Sports Tourism Department will host its annual Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stanford Park, located at 1451 8th Street Drive NE.

This free community event will be held rain or shine, and will offer an informative health and resource fair. Carolina Ear Nose & Throat and Gaston Family Health Services will be on-site to provide free health screenings. Please note that these health screenings are general assessments and will not count towards a youth’s sports physical.

There will also be food and fun activities for families to enjoy, including bounce houses, train rides, games, and face painting. Plus, free backpacks filled with school supplies will be given to the first 300 youth in attendance.

The event begins at 10 a.m. with the health and resource fair. Health screenings and the distribution of wristbands to receive backpacks will begin at 10:30 a.m. At 11:00 a.m., food will be served and children can enjoy playing in the bounce houses and taking train rides around Stanford Park. During the event, backpacks will be distributed to children in grades K-8 with qualifying wristbands. Children must be present to receive a backpack, and there is a limit of one backpack per child.

“The Back to School Bash is a fun event held every year to kick off the start of the new school year and ensure Hickory students are prepared for classes with school supplies and important health screenings,” said Hickory Recreation and Sports Tourism Director Mark Seaman. “I’m looking forward to seeing another great turnout at this year’s event.”

The presenting sponsor of the event is Modern Nissan of Hickory. Additional sponsors include St. Stephens Church & School – LCMS and Lowes Foods.

For more information about the Back to School Bash, please contact Senior Recreation Programmer Kyle Mishler at (828) 261-2259 or via email at kmishler@hickorync.gov. For general questions about other upcoming programs, please contact the Recreation and Sports Tourism Administrative Office at (828) 323-7046.