rate the start of a new school year after a long, lazy summer, but this year Main Street Covington will host a fun-filled Back 2 School Block Party to ramp up students and their families' excitement about the beginning of classes.

Main Street Covington Director Josephine Kelly said the organization has historically supported education and literacy efforts. She said the organization's newly formed community special events committee concocted and coordinated the event's inaugural year.

"With families buying school supplies and after summer vacations," Kelly said, "we wanted to have something at the end of the summer that would be totally free to residents."

The committee has made arrangements with a variety of community organizations that offer some type of youth services to co-sponsor the event - providing refreshments, giveaways or children's activities.

"What we want the community to be aware of all the other educational resources in the county that go beyond what's found in the school system," Kelly said.

Students who attend the block party can pick up a "Go to the Top of the Class" card from the registration tent and have seven organizations stamp their card in order to place it in a box for a drawing. Whoever is drawn will have a donation made to his school's media center in his or her name.

Mainstream Dance will demonstrate how to dance the salsa, and then sponsor a competition. The adult and the child winning couples will receive Main Street Bucks to spend at downtown businesses.

RE/MAX will hold drawings which will award six lucky students with brand new book bags to carry on the first day of class, and The Learning Center will give away books.

Entertainment such as games, face-painting and music performed by various church singing groups will be provided. The D.A.R.E trailer, which is stocked with video games, will also keep youngsters occupied.

Kelly said all the participating organizations will give away a multitude of small school supplies such as pencils, stickers and coloring books as well as free refreshments such as popcorn and watermelon.

She explained that organizations who would like to participate still have time to sign up by calling the Main Street Covington office at (770) 385-2077.

"We are hoping this is the start of a new tradition," Kelly said.