When “back to school” becomes a hipster festival
Ah, August. The month in which parents celebrate (secretly) the end of the holidays and children cry (in public) because TikTok is over until lunchtime. But this year, Profeco decided that back to school would not just be a family drama, but an event worthy of Coachella… notebooks and pencils version. Welcome to the Back to School Fair at Expo Reforma, where you can finally buy a backpack and get a temporary emoji tattoo (because what better way to start the school year than with a heart on your cheek, right?).
What no one told you about this fair
Imagine a place where instead of just selling you school supplies with discounts (boring), they also offer you:
- Dance workshop with a name that seems taken from a Björk album: “The dance of lightning and honey” (spoiler: no one knows what it means, but it sounds instagrammable).
- Rock concert “Back to School”, because nothing says “algebra” like a good guitar riff.
- Homemade shampoo made in a home technology course (aka “how to survive adolescence with ingredients from your pantry”).
And if that were not enough, there are free services that include everything from medical certificates (useful) to haircuts (urgent after a three-month vacation). What if it’s strange? Yes. Great? Also.
But it’s not all a party: the fair brings together more than 50 suppliers with discounts of up to 50% on backpacks, shoes and even uniforms (because yes, the school t-shirt costs more than your salary). And if you are one of those who uses the Mi beca Bienestar card, they accept payments here as if you were an influencer at Starbucks.
The fact that will make you feel FOMO
According to Concanaco-Servytur, in past editions this fair has brought together more than 4,500 businesses in 70 cities. In other words, it’s basically the Woodstock of school shopping, but with less mud and more Frozen notebooks. Of course, if you go, prepare for chaos: between juggling workshops, talks on consumer rights (“yes, Karen, you have the right to claim that backpack that broke in two days”) and optics stands (because the cell phone was not a good friend to your eyesight), you will leave exhausted… but with your school list complete.
Are you going to miss it? The fair is at Expo Reforma (Morelos 67, CDMX) until August 20, from 9 AM to 8 PM. And if you are not in the capital, there are 40 more fairs throughout the country. Run, there’s even face painting! (Yes, adults can too.)
#BonusTrack: Share your photos from #RegresoAClasesProfeco and tag us. Are you going for the discounts or the concert? (We don’t judge). And if you were left wanting more, check out our smart shopping guide so you don’t spend like you’re a Kardashian.
