PALM COAST, Fla. On Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, families streamed into the grassy lot at St. Joe Plaza for the fourth annual Back to School event, a free community get-together that helped local students start the year with fresh haircuts, stocked backpacks, and plenty of time to play.
Set up at 223 St. Joe Plaza and hosted by Toney’s Barbershop, the event has gotten bigger every year. Even with the late-summer heat, parents and kids kept coming through as organizers spread tents, folding tables, and games across the field next to the shopping plaza. Inside the barbershop, things moved nonstop.
Toney’s Barber Shop gave free haircuts to students, and the line snaked down the covered walkway while barbers bounced from chair to chair. Some families grabbed spots on shaded benches, others stood in the doorway, keeping an eye on the action. Food helped keep the crowd going. Scoops and Subs handed out 50 free ice-cream scoops to students. Under the tents, volunteers served pizza from tables, and at the Firehouse Subs booth, kids could pick up cold drinks along with pencils and crayons. Still, the main point was school prep. Tables were stacked with supplies, crayons, pens, markers, highlighters, and other basics, and volunteers handed out backpacks so students could walk into class ready.
Local groups and businesses showed up in force. The One Village Foundation, a nonprofit started in 2026, pitched in with volunteers sorting and organizing supplies at its booth. Villari’s Martial Arts marked off a “Karate Area,” where children could fill out a form and give an activity a try. A Palm Coast City Council candidate also set up a table among the vendors. Kids found plenty to do beyond the giveaways.
Two inflatable castles stayed busy while a DJ played music from beneath a tent. Now a familiar annual stop for many residents, this back-to-school bash keeps adding new support and pulling in a larger crowd. For plenty of families, it was a free, upbeat way to get ready for the first day of school.
