The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida invites the Lee County community to attend its 11th Annual Back-To-School Festival & School Supply Giveaway, aka, The BIG Backpack Event.

It is scheduled for Sunday, August 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers and is open to the public at no charge. The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida’s main goal each year is to support students in need while celebrating the diversity in our community, officials of the Centre said.

The BIG Backpack Event has grown over the past 11 years, serving more than 2,000 elementary kids in need with free back packs and school supplies each year. The event draws a crowd of 12,000 to 15,000 people. This free family fun event offers free back packs and school supplies to the first 2,000 plus elementary age children. They must be present with their parent or guardian to receive these supplies.

Other free services and activities provided include: eye exams, hair cuts, finger printing, face painting, bounce houses, back-to-school clothing, food-to-go, plus meet and greets with characters such as Pirate of the Caribbean, Missy Miracle, Swampee, and more. There is also a full day of live multicultural entertainment on the main stage that celebrate the diversity in our community, including salsa, hip hop, Irish Step, singers, martial arts and more, organizers said.

The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, a 501c3, its Board of Directors, and team of volunteers donate 100 percent of their time to fundraising for the event each year with 100 percent of all donations supporting students in need. There will be approximately 150 volunteers at this year’s event, more than 20 vendors, more than 12 performances on the main stage, and celebrity emcees.

Event sponsors include Harborside Event Center, City of Fort Myers and several other organizations.

For more information about the BIG Backpack Event or to make an online donation visit www.multiculturalcentre.org, call 239-561-7345, or email multicultural@juno.com.

Tax deductible donations can also be mailed to The Multicultural Centre of SWFL at PO Box 61713 Fort Myers, FL 33906.