SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
The Charlotte Local Education Foundation, along with the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, played host to a Back to School Festival Saturday at the Cultural Center in Port Charlotte. There were plenty of free school supplies for all the children who came, along with free haircuts provided by Shawn and Company, free eye screenings by Dr. David Klein, and even some face painting by Child Life Productions, brought in by Helgemo and Liou Pediatrics. Here, 5-year-old Yandel Cano, who goes to year-round school Sallie Jones Elementary in Punta Gorda, gives the Charlotte Stone Crabs mascot “Stoney” a little love.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Kyle Roy, 11, a student at Murdock Middle School, gets some school supplies from his principal, Maria Gifford.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Mari Anne Hernandez paints 9-year-old Neil Armstrong Elementary School student Deidriannna Facey’s face at the Back to School Festival Saturday.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Wabens Guerrier, 14, who will attend the PASS Program this fall at The Academy at Charlotte Technical Center, spins the wheel to win school supplies at the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union booth.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Getting a haircut by Shawn from Shawn and Company is 9-year-old Christopher Hartman, pictured with Vicki Polk and his sister, Miranda, 10, who also had her hair cut by Shawn and Company. Shawn promotes the Imagination Library book program.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
What’s a festival without popcorn? Michelle Rambo 7, and her brother, Carl, 8, both students at Sallie Jones Elementary School, got to enjoy their treat after collecting school supplies at the back-to-school event.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Lowell Dorce 5, a student at Neil Armstrong Elementary School, and Jacob White 6, from Peace River Elementary School, pet the Peace River mascot at the festival Saturday.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Tom Cavaliere brought his daughters, Trinity, 7, a student at Neil Armstrong Elementary School, and Port Charlotte Middle School student Marissa,10, to the Cultural Center Saturday to stock up on supplies for the school year.