The Shops at Foxchase Kicked Off Back-to-School Season in Style
VVS Events & Marketing partnered with First Washington Realty to host the inaugural Back 2 School Celebration at The Shops at Foxchase in Alexandria, VA. Families enjoyed a free school supply treasure hunt, backpack giveaways with purchase, face painting, a live DJ, and hands-on craft stations designed to drive both foot traffic and merchant sales.
Back-to-school season is one of the busiest—and most stressful—times of year for families. The Shops at Foxchase and First Washington Realty saw an opportunity to turn that stress into celebration, and VVS Events & Marketing was proud to bring that vision to life with the inaugural Back 2 School Celebration.
What did families experience at the event?
From noon to 3 p.m., the shopping center transformed into a hub of back-to-school fun. Families kicked things off with the School Supply Treasure Hunt, where the first 150 children received a passport guiding them store to store to collect supplies from participating merchants.
Guests who spent $20 or more at any Shoppes at Foxchase business could bring their receipt to Guest Services and claim a complimentary backpack—one for every $20 spent, while supplies lasted. It's a simple mechanic with a powerful outcome: guests were incentivized to shop while they played.
What activations kept the energy high?
Beyond the treasure hunt, VVS built out a full lineup of hands-on experiences:
Live DJ: Setting the soundtrack for the entire afternoon.
Face Painters: Two artists on hand to add a splash of color to the celebration.
Photo Booth: DIY Bookmark Station: An open-air photo booth paired with a take-home bookmark craft.
DIY Backpack Patch Bar Workshop: Guests personalized their new backpacks with patches and pins.
Community Book Swap: In partnership with Elev8 Today, a local youth empowerment nonprofit, 100 books were made available for guests to take home.
Pencil & Sticker Station: A simple, joyful touch that let kids pick supplies that matched their personality.
Themed Balloon Columns: Custom pencil and crayon-themed installations that framed the Guest Services area.
Why did this event matter for The Shops at Foxchase and First Washington Realty?
An inaugural event carries extra weight—it sets the tone for everything that follows. By pairing a compelling giveaway (free backpacks and supplies) with a direct incentive to shop, the Back 2 School Celebration was built to drive real, measurable value for participating merchants like Mathnasium, Massage Envy, GEICO, VEG ER for Pets, and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
At the same time, the day gave families a genuine reason to spend an afternoon at the center, reinforcing The Shops at Foxchase as a community destination, not just a shopping strip.
What's next?
With a strong inaugural turnout and a full slate of merchant partners engaged, The Shops at Foxchase has laid the groundwork for Back 2 School Celebration to become an annual tradition.
Ready to turn your shopping center into the next community destination? VVS Events & Marketing handles every detail, from vendor coordination to post-event reporting, so you can focus on the results.
Comments