Free Backpacks, Touch-a-Truck and a Sensory-Friendly Start: Back to School Blast Comes to The Shops at Wiregrass
The Tampa Bay Moms Group's free Back to School Blast lands at The Shops at Wiregrass on Saturday, July 25, with backpacks, school supplies and a full day of family activities — including an autism- and sensory-friendly experience.
Wesley Chapel families can pick up a free full-size backpack and a day's worth of kid activities on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the Tampa Bay Moms Group brings its annual Back to School Blast to The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive. Admission is free, and with the new school year closing in, the event is built to help local parents check supply lists off while the kids run through Touch-a-Truck, bounce houses and craft stations right along Paseo Drive.
The event, presented by Bright Horizons in partnership with TBMG Cares, moves to Wiregrass this year. Organizers say the plan is simple: let families stroll the open-air shopping center, visit sponsors and vendors, and collect school supplies as they go.
How the free backpacks work
The centerpiece is a School Supply Scavenger Hunt. Kids who stop by the Tampa Bay Moms Group booth near Center Court can pick one up, then work their way through the event. Those who take part receive a full-size backpack plus supplies to fill it — while supplies last.
The giveaway also reaches children who need it most. According to the organizers, additional filled backpacks are being provided to kids in Title 1 districts and to children currently in the Pasco and Hillsborough County foster care systems. Those recipients are also eligible for extra support, including camp scholarships, tickets and prizes.
Every item handed out through the scavenger hunt is unbranded, so kids can carry and use their gear proudly at school without it being marked as a donation.
An inclusive, sensory-friendly plan
One detail sets this event apart from a typical festival: it is designed to be welcoming for kids who find loud, busy environments overwhelming.
Touch-a-Truck opens with a sensory-sensitive start from 10 to 10:30 a.m. — no horns, no lights, no sirens — so families who prefer a calmer setting can get hands-on with the vehicles first. Organizers say sensory-sensitive areas and sensory-stimulating activities will also be spread throughout the event, making it an autism- and sensory-friendly experience.
What else is happening
Beyond the trucks and backpacks, the day runs on the usual kid-fuel: an inflatable obstacle course, bounce houses, complimentary craft stations, games and main-stage entertainment all day long.
- When: Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
- Cost: Free admission
- Backpack pickup: Tampa Bay Moms Group booth near Center Court (while supplies last)
- Sensory-sensitive Touch-a-Truck: 10–10:30 a.m.
Because backpacks and supplies are limited, families hoping to collect them will want to arrive early rather than count on stock late in the afternoon. Organizers are also still seeking sponsors, vendors and volunteers ahead of the day.
Full event details are posted on the Tampa Bay Moms Group's Back to School Blast page.
For more community happenings across Wesley Chapel, keep up with us at Wesley Chapel Community, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Planning to bring the kids? Join the conversation in our Community Forum and tell us what you're most looking forward to. You can also read more local events and community stories anytime.
Header photo: Marcus Quigmire from Florida, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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