By Mark Ambrogi
Mary Cox knew about popular back to school events in other states and believed the time was right to bring it to the Indianapolis area.
The Back2School Bash is set from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Carmel’s Monon Community Center. The free event is hosted by Indy’s Child and Hamilton County Family Magazines.
“We have over 60 booths sold so far,” said Cox, from Indy’s Child. “We’re going to have live entertainment every half-hour. We have mascots, face painters and games. We have great prizes we’re giving away every half-hour.”
The prizes include a one-year family membership to the Monon Community Center, a holiday package to Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tenn., a Staples backpack with a gift card and several $50 Kroger gift cards. The first 100 families will receive a swag bag.
Some of the booths will include Conner Prairie, Meridian Music and Indianapolis Children’s Choir.
Special entertainment includes the Colts Play 60 Zone, “Touch a Truck” experience, live stage presentations, Bubble Zone, mock Indy Child’s covers and carnival games.
Trisha Shepherd, a former Indianapolis TV anchor, will sign copies of her new book, “Know When to Run: Lessons from the Diary of a Gen X Mom.”
Participants are invited to attend the Waterpark at the Monon for free after the event.
There will be 13 private schools represented, such as Culver Academy, in the school zone. The Orchard School and Maria Montessori International Academy are sponsors. There will be tutoring programs, after-school enrichment programs (music, dance, gymnastics) and health care organizations.
“It’s a great one-stop spot to learn about different offerings available in Central Indiana,” Cox said. “The purpose is to make it easy for the parents.”
Cox said she plans to have it become an annual event the weekend before Labor Day.
