The Tacoma Police Department will give away backpacks filled with school supplies, offer free health screenings and haircuts at its annual Kids Health & Safety Fair on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Tacoma Dome.

The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is free and open to all families.

According to the city's event listing, children can receive free dental cleanings, vision and hearing screenings, and backpacks with school supplies while they last. The department's stated goal: "Kids are ready for school on day one."

New this year, the fair will feature interactive STEM stations. The city said the hands-on activities show kids how science, technology, engineering and math connect to careers in fast-growing job sectors.

Tacoma Public Schools' newsroom lists the TPD fair among several free back-to-school events across the city in August. The Tacoma Dome is at 2727 E. D St.

The fair launched in 2023 at People's Community Center as a collaboration between TPD and Metro Parks Tacoma. That first event offered coats, bike helmets, mental health resources and food alongside the school supplies and health checks. TPD called last year's edition "a massive hit" in an Aug. 25, 2025, post on X.

The fair fits a broader community-engagement push under Police Chief Patti Jackson. When she announced the Tacoma Public Safety Partnership on Aug. 18, Jackson said, "Since becoming Chief of Police, I've focused on building better relationships between our agency and the community we serve."

Tacoma Venues & Events, which manages the Tacoma Dome, said it is supporting the fair. The Tacoma Weekly reported that families can also connect with health and safety resource providers at the event.

Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday. Backpacks go first-come, first-served.