Free ‌Haircuts, ‌Backpacks, ‌and Bounce Houses, Palm Coast Businesses Helps Kids Kick Off the School Year

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.

Children play near a colorful bounce house in a grassy field, with adults and cars in the background A few chairs are scattered around, and the sky is partly cloudy
Children and adults enjoy an outdoor event with two colorful bounce houses on a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky Some people stand nearby, while others play inside the inflatables
A busy barbershop with several barbers cutting hair, customers seated in barber chairs, and hair products on counters The walls display haircut style posters The shop has bright overhead lighting and tile floors
A person stands under a blue canopy, operating DJ equipment and a laptop on a table with speakers set up on grass Trees and cars are visible in the background on a partly cloudy day
Two women sit at a table under a blue canopy outside, with a sign for “One Village Foundation” on an easel nearby and several empty chairs on the grass Trees and cars are visible in the background
Two women stand near a table with pizza boxes and drinks at an outdoor event One wears a green “Back to School” t shirt and visor, while the other faces away, wearing a blue shirt and a white sweater around her waist
A group of children and adults stand in a line outside a building under a covered walkway, while some kids sit on a bench nearby Bright daylight and greenery are visible in the background
Three women organize school supplies under a blue tent outdoors One woman arranges items in bins, another drinks from a cup, and the third handles plastic bags Empty chairs and parked cars are visible in the background
A man in a red martial arts uniform stands behind a table with pamphlets and mats at an outdoor event, with trees and cars visible in the background
People gather at an outdoor event in a grassy field with a bounce house, tents, and tables Children play while adults stand and sit Tall pine trees and cloudy skies are in the background
A person in a hat and glasses stands beside a table outdoors, talking to others The table holds a black crate and various items Green grass and trees are visible in the background

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.

The post Free ‌Haircuts, ‌Backpacks, ‌and Bounce Houses, Palm Coast Businesses Helps Kids Kick Off the School Year first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.