COEUR d'ALENE - Summer is almost over, and that means school is just around the corner.

To celebrate the coming of the new school year and give local families a boost, The Family Guide hosted a Back-to-School Kids Fair in the center of the Silver Lake Mall on Saturday.

"Even if it's just a notebook or a box of crayons or some pens and pencils, at least it's some savings here and there," said event organizer Charity Bagatsing. "Even snacks, they can take them to school."

Parents browsed through the more than 20 tables of local businesses, organizations and services while their kids enjoyed games and activities, winning back-to-school prizes such as markers, notebooks and even free haircut vouchers from Toni and Guy.

"Just a back-to-school haircut, that's like $15," Bagatsing said.

Jason Wirtz of Coeur d'Alene visited with another parent as his enthusiastic 10-year-old and incoming fifth-grader, Gabriel, participated in spinning prize wheels and tossing rings.

"I think it's a good thing for everybody, it's a pretty good deal," Jason said. "Parents and their kids get to interact with other people and the community."

"I liked the bean bag toss," Gabriel said.

One of the day's events was the Positive Presentations' Back-to-School Fashion Show, where several youngsters modeled clothing from stores within the mall.

"I loved it, I seriously want to buy that outfit," said Tia Moua, 14, of Spokane.

All the youths who modeled in the show are active with community service and volunteering. Tia is Miss Spokane's Outstanding Teen, received third runner-up for the Miss Washington Outstanding Teen competition and volunteers her time with Unity in the Community, a nonprofit that promotes and educates about diversity. She said she was happy to participate in the Back-to-School Kids Fair and appreciated the reasoning behind it.

"I think it's amazing. I help with Unity in the Community and that also helps give away school supplies, even backpacks for lower income families," she said. "It's so important for a community to come together like that. To see so many families come out today was really great."

Among those who had booths at the fair were the Girl Scouts of America, Warhorse Karate Jiu Jitsu, Damsel in Defense, Idaho Distance Education Academy and the Kootenai County Humane Society.

Lorrie Dehaas of Coeur d'Alene is the office manager for local dentist Andrew M. Larson. Her table had drawings to win a backpack full of school supplies or passes to Silverwood as well as dental hygiene care packages with toothpaste and other items.

"It is always important. A lot of kids don't have dental care," Dehaas said. "It's good to start them young and get them used to doing it."

Bagatsing said the Back-to-School Kids Fair also served as a way to restore some vivacity to the mall while entertaining the kids and providing information and services to parents. She likened the back-to-school season to Christmastime for businesses in the mall, especially the clothing retailers.

"It's to support the local businesses in the community and at the same time have fun while parents are doing the back-to-school shopping," she said. "The kids are getting lots of freebies and the parents are having fun learning about local resources."