Celebrate the start of a brand new school year with Mercer House's and the Natrona County School District's Back to School Bash on Saturday.

More than 70 booths for the Bash will be set up in the areas surrounding the Natrona County Public Library and the Nicolaysen Art Museum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Beech Street from Second Street to Collins Drive will be closed from 8 a.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday. Collins Drive from Beech Street to Kimball Street will also be closed at during that time.

Bus riders should use CATC's Durbin Street stop on Friday.

Jennifer Schultes with the school district's communications team said the Bash offers free food and drinks, lots of giveaways and the chance to start the school year with excitement.

"This is not the end of summer," Schultes said. "This is a kick off to a really awesome new school year."

The Denver Zoo will be at the Bash, along with other local vendors and businesses. The Nic will also offer free admission during the Bash.

Students from the Rocky Mountain School of Dance will also perform. Once Upon a Child, Kim's Closet and Hart's are all hosting fashion shows as well.

"This is so much bigger than we thought it would ever be," Schultes said. "The community has jumped on this."

Parking at the Bash is limited to surrounding side streets and the downtown area. The library parking lot will be closed, as will the Market Square lot.

For more information, contact Natrona County School District's Community Relations team at (307) 577-0200.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.

The following schools will have booths at the Bash--

Bar Nunn

Casper Classical Academy

Centennial

Cottonwood

CY

Dean Morgan

Evansville

Frontier

Kelly Walsh

Manor Heights

Midwest

Mountain View

Park

Sagewood

St. Anthony's

Star Lane

Woods