As summer winds down, preparations are gearing up to send students back to school prepared and ready to learn. In an effort to equip students and families for a successful school year, community back-to-school fairs will be held next weekend.

The 25th Annual Aurora Back to School Fair, co-sponsored by the City of Aurora, Communities in Schools, and community partners, will be held on Saturday, August 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the John Harkness Center, 60 S. Fourth Street.

Children will receive a free backpack with grade-level school supplies and families will have an opportunity to visit booths and obtain information from school districts, social service organizations and government agencies. VNA Health Care will be on site with the mobile health clinic for school physicals and immunizations. Aurora Children’s Dental Service and Miles of Smiles will provide on-site dental exams. Eligible families must bring: a utility bill with an Aurora address, identification (driver’s license, state ID, matricula consular) and proof of income (check stubs, TANF, SNAP). [Download flyer]

During the same weekend, Aurora aldermen will host annual events to bring the community together for the start of the 2019-2020 school year:

• On Friday, Aug. 9, Alderman-at-Large Sherman Jenkins and AAMOU will host the 11th Annual Back-to-School Fair in partnership with 4th Ward Alderman Bill Donnell, 6th Ward Alderman Mike Saville and community partners. The event includes free food, games and school supplies. Parents and children must both be present to receive supplies. The fair will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 at Greene Field Park, 774 Illinois Ave., Aurora.

•  On Sunday, Aug. 11, 2nd Ward Alderman Juany Garza and the Ward 2 Committee host the 14th Annual Ice Cream Social. The event includes free tacos and ice cream with school supplies and performances from Those Funny Little People and Bomboncita the Clown and Ballet Folklorico Infinity! The event will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11 at McCarty Park, 350 E. Galena Blvd.

• On Sunday, Aug. 11, 7th Ward Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, Main Baptist Church and community partners will host the 32nd Annual Back-to-School Bash. There will be free food, t-shirts, haircuts, hair styling and school supplies for students. Special guests include The Tommies Reunion Choir, The Chicago Mass Choir and more! The bash will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, at the corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Grand Boulevard.