Hillsborough County Fairgrounds to Host Annual Back 2 School Bash on August 1
Families from across Hillsborough County are invited to kick off the new school year at the 2026 Back 2 School Bash, taking place Saturday, August 1, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, located at 215 Sydney Washer Road in Dover.
The annual community outreach event brings together the Hillsborough County Fair, Hillsborough County Public Schools, local nonprofits, churches, businesses, and community partners with one common goal: helping students begin the school year prepared for success.
This free event will feature:
Backpack and school supply giveaway (while supplies last)
Resources from Hillsborough County Public Schools
More than 100 community vendors
Family-friendly activities
Kid Zone and bounce houses
Information on educational and community support services
Registration for the 2026 backpack giveaway will be walk-up only, making it easier than ever for families in need to receive assistance.
“The Back 2 School Bash is much more than a school supply giveaway,” organizers said. “It’s an opportunity for our community to come together and ensure every child begins the school year with confidence, encouragement, and the resources they need to succeed.”
Each year, thousands of children and families attend the event, making it one of the largest back-to-school outreach efforts in Hillsborough County. In addition to receiving backpacks and school supplies, families can connect with organizations offering valuable educational, health, and social service resources.
Community members, businesses, churches, and civic organizations are encouraged to support the event through sponsorships, school supply donations, or volunteering.
Railroad Crossings
Maintenance
During a recent CSX track maintenance project that took place between January 12 and January 30 of this year (Project: Lakeland T1-T2), several crossings on the project list were deemed “skips” so that adequate detouring could be maintained.
CSX has reached out to Southern Commercial Development, as well as Hillsborough County, to coordinate the closures of these roadways so that the necessary track maintenance can be performed.
Impacted Roadways / Upcoming Closures to take place at:
Lenna Ave – Closing Mon, 7/20 for 3 days
Gallagher Rd – Cancelled/Postponed
Park Rd – Closing Mon, 7/27 for 4 days
Forbes Rd – Closing Wed, 7/29 for 3 days
Williams Rd – Closing Mon, 8/3 for 4 days
N. Dover Rd – Cancelled/Postponed
S. Woodrow Wilson St – Cancelled/Postponed
Cookie Cutter Lane / Private – Closing Wed, 8/12 for 2 days
S. Alexander St – Closing Mon, 8/17 for 4 days
*All closures will be full and total closures of all travel lanes. No one will be able to cross the tracks at these locations until the work has been completed*
*All scheduled closure dates and times are subject to change*
New Traffic Pattern for SR 39
Beginning this week, northbound traffic on SR 39 (James L Redman Parkway) will shift to the left side of the road, reducing the number of travel lanes in each direction between Rayburn Road and Golden Rule Lane in Plant City.
Over the next six months, motorists should expect delays or congestion while traveling through the project limits, as crews perform phased construction to remove and replace the roadway’s asphalt surface with concrete pavement.
Access for driveways, sidewalks, side streets, and emergency vehicles will be maintained. Motorists are reminded to slow down, stay alert, and drive safely through the work zone.
Other improvements at the intersection of Charlie Griffin Road include adding a crosswalk, updating lighting, and repairing sections of sidewalk.
Construction activities are expected to finish in early 2027, weather permitting.
For more information on the SR 39 (James L Redman Parkway) pavement reconstruction project, visit FDOT Tampa Bay.
Plant City Police Department June Statistics
The Plant City Police Department released statistics on crime for the month of June. In June there were no use of force calls, 48 larcenies, 20 Behavioral Health Encounters, 110 Vehicle Crashes, 47 Battery Simple/Aggravated, 10 property crimes, 136 disturbances, 23 domestic violence, and four drug/alcoholic crisis response.
There were 1,317 citizen initialed calls for service and 3,058 officer initiated calls for service. There were 70 felony arrests and 123 misdemeanor arrests.
In traffic, there were 522 stops, 190 traffic citations and eight DUI arrests.
