Free Backpacks for COS Students — Last Chance Is This Saturday at Backpack Bash Central

If your family missed the July 25 Backpack Bash locations, there's one more chance this weekend. The Backpack Bash Central location is happening Saturday, August 1, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and it's the final Backpack Bash event of the 2026 season. Any family with a child enrolled in a Colorado Springs-area public or charter school is eligible to pick up a free backpack.

The Details

Backpack Bash is a community-organized event designed to make sure COS students start the school year with a bag that fits them. Backpacks are free — no cost, no voucher, no proof of financial need required. The only requirements are that the student is enrolled in a local public or charter school and is present at the event with a parent or guardian.

Pre-registration is encouraged through cosbackpackbash.com, but organizers are clear that signing up online does not hold a backpack for your family. The event runs on a first-come, first-served basis, and organizers have historically advised families to arrive close to the 9:00 a.m. start time if they want the best selection and to make sure they're served before supplies run out.

One thing to set expectations around: Backpack Bash distributes backpacks, not school supplies. If your child still needs folders, pencils, or other classroom items, you'll need to pick those up separately. Many local dollar stores and Target have back-to-school supply sections still well-stocked in late July.

Why This Timing Matters for D49 Families

For families in Falcon School District 49, this event falls two days before the first day of school. D49 starts August 3 for kindergarteners, 6th graders, and 9th graders, with all other students following August 4. Getting a backpack this Saturday means your child is ready to walk in on Monday with everything in hand.

D11 families have a bit more time before August 12, and D20 families have until August 17–18, but with the Central Backpack Bash being the last event of the season, waiting isn't advisable if your child needs a bag.

What's Next

Get the specific address for the Central location at cosbackpackbash.com before heading out Saturday morning. Plan to arrive around 9:00 a.m. — backpacks go fast. For D49 families, the first day of school is Monday, August 3.