The Updated Guide to Back-to-School Bashes
Back-to-school season is in full swing, and if you have kids heading into the classroom this fall, now is the time to take advantage of tax-free savings and the free backpack and supply giveaways happening across the county so you don’t have to break the bank getting your kids ready for the new school year.
Florida’s Back-to-School Tax-Free Month
Florida’s 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is already underway, running through Thursday, Aug. 20, giving families a full month to shop tax-free on qualifying items.
Clothing, footwear, wallets, backpacks, handbags, and fanny packs priced at $100 or less per item are exempt. Certain school supplies priced at $50 or less per item are also exempt, including pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, binders, lunch boxes, folders, markers, rulers, scissors, glue, and staplers. Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles priced at $30 or less are exempt. Personal computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and related accessories priced at $1,500 or less are exempt when purchased for personal, non-commercial use. Smartphones and video game consoles do not qualify.
Doing your back-to-school shopping now, while the tax exemption is in effect, means saving 7% on qualifying purchases. Online purchases are also eligible for savings, as long as the order is accepted and processed during the tax-holiday window. Layaway purchases made during the holiday period also qualify. For the full list of qualifying items, visit floridarevenue.com.
Free Backpack Giveaways and Community Events
Organizations across the county are showing up in a big way this summer. Events are happening now through late August, spanning Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Davenport, Auburndale, and Bartow. Check our calendar below to find the specific date, time, and location for each event near you. Most giveaways require children to be present to receive supplies, and many are first-come, first-served, so plan to arrive early.
If you know of a back-to-school event not listed here, email [email protected], and we will add it.
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Sources: Florida Department of Revenue Tax Information Publication 26A01-11, July 1, 2026; Lakeland Mom (lakelandmom.com), July 2026; Polk County Sheriff’s Office (polksheriff.org); Visit Central Florida (visitcentralflorida.org); Florida Blue/Eventbrite, 2026; Polk Education Foundation (polkeducationfoundation.org); Parker Street Ministries (psmlakeland.org); Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine (centralfloridalifestyle.com), July 2026
