The city of Charleston will welcome thousands of students and their families to the 15th Annual First Day Festival at Liberty Square at the SC Aquarium and the Charleston Maritime Center on Sunday, August 13, 2017 from 1 to 4 p.m. Each year, the festival serves as a celebration of the importance of education and a kick-off to the new school year. Students who attend the festival will receive pre-packed bags of school supplies while they last.
Donations to the school supply drive will be accepted through Thursday, August 10. Drop-off locations include: Arthur Christopher Community Center, Bees Landing Recreation Center, Hazel Parker Playground, James Island Recreation Center, Recreation Main Office (823 Meeting St), 116 Meeting Street, City Hall (80 Broad Street), 50 Broad Street, 75 Calhoun Street, Gaillard Center (2 George Street), and Public Service Operations building (2150 Milford Street). The most requested supplies include pencils & erasers, pens, wide-ruled filler paper, wide-ruled composition books, two pocket folders, markers, crayons, 12-inch rulers, colored pencils, index cards, hand sanitizer (travel size), tissue (travel/pocket size), glue/glue sticks, and scissors.
In addition to receiving these materials, exhibitors will be on hand to provide information about student support services as well as community resources, and there will be free entertainment in the Kids Zone. Admission to the SC Aquarium is free during the hours of 1-5 p.m., and there will be limited free boat rides. Healthy snacks and information about the upcoming total solar eclipse will be provided at the Charleston Maritime Center.
Mindy Sturm, director of the Mayor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families said, “This festival is a great chance for the community to show local students how much we support them as they start off the new school year. We hope that this celebration gets them excited about school and gives them the tools they need to excel in their studies.”
To learn more about the First Day Festival, where to donate to the school supply drive, and how to volunteer, contact Grace Weidemann, First Day Festival Coordinator, at weidemanng@charleston-sc.gov or visit www.charleston-sc.gov/MOCYF.