Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 25, 2025 — With school around the corner, many families are looking to take advantage of Arkansas’ 2025 Sales Tax Holiday and other Back to School events.

JRN has compiled a list of Back-to-School events in Jonesboro to help families gear up and enjoy time together before school starts.

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (ADFA), the 2025 Sales Tax Holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

This state holiday allows shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain electronic devices, school supplies, and clothing without state and local sales tax.

All retailers are required to participate and may not charge tax on items that are legally tax-exempt during the Sales Tax Holiday. For an itemized list, click here.  Note: This list is from the ADFA website and was created in 2021.

The City of Jonesboro is also trying to help back-to-school shoppers with complimentary round-trip Jonesboro Economical Transportation (JET) rides to retail shopping establishments on Aug. 2. Complimentary rides are only available on fixed routes and free rides will not be provided on Aug. 3.

A JET Facebook post said riders may not ride buses with more packages than they can safely carry and hold.

Other events happening on Aug. 2 include Arty’s Back to School Bash and Hijinx’s Back-to-School Block Party.

Artsy’s Back to School Bash will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Artsy Unique Boutique, located at 2711 Paula Drive. The first 10 purchasers will receive a swag bag, and each purchase will give shoppers a chance to spin to win. The Boujeepops food trailer will also be present.

Hijinx will hold its first Back-to-School Block Party from noon to 2 p.m. at Hijinx, 3102 Shelby Drive. This event will feature free hamburgers and hot dogs courtesy of Jonesboro D.A.R.E., music, games, and bounce houses.

Hijinx will also have a backpack giveaway with school supplies and prize games, such as football toss, soccer, a duck pull, cornhole, inflatable axe throwing and ring toss.

Other Back to School events happening include:

Saturday, July 26:

The Neighbors in Need Community Picnic, hosted by Neighbors in Need NEA, takes place this weekend. The picnic will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Bernards Auditorium, 505 E. Washington Ave.

In addition to barbeque, the picnic will feature various NEA nonprofits hosting giveaways, including Northeast Arkansans for Animals Rescue, the St. Bernards Medical Center, and the McCullough Watkins Youth Foundation’s second annual Back to School Giveaway.

Saturday, Aug. 9:

The NEA Hub Church will be hosting its Build the Backpack at 10 a.m. at NEA Hub Church, located at 3306 Shelby Drive. The Hub will provide 1,000 backpacks, along with other school supplies, for K-12 NEA students. Water and snacks be provided.

Midtown Glamour will be hosting its first Back to School Bash starting at noon at Midtown Glamour Salon Studios, located 218 E. Highland Drive. This event will feature Back-to-School specials, such as $10 kid cuts, $15 teacher/school staff cuts (provide a valid school ID), $25 scalp treatments, gel manicures, Botox and more.

School supply donations will be collected at this event. Bring a donation or receive a service and be entered into giveaway drawings.

Saturday, Aug. 23:

Westrock Orthodontics is celebrating the new school year with its Back to School Bash at 9 a.m. outside of Westrock Orthodontics, located at 2606 Browns Lane. This event will feature a face painter, snow cone truck, bounce house, and more.

For a list of school start-back dates across Craighead County, click here.