Hardin County Schools is planning Back-to-School Fests before the 2026-27 school year. All schools will also continue to conduct traditional open houses before the first day of school.

The open houses are instrumental in helping new students and parents become acquainted with their school. It assists families in familiarizing themselves with the school’s layout, programs, teachers, administrators and logistics.

Some elementary schools have separate activities for incoming kindergarten and preschool students. Some middle schools have an independent night for a sixth-grade transition event.

The dates and times below are also listed on the HCS website, hardin.kyschools.us. The list is available under the Quick Links tab

HCS Family Resource and Youth Services Centers are organizing the Back-to-School Fests open to all HCS families. The fests will host community organizations and partners who will provide families with back-to-school information and fun. There will be games, inflatables, face painting, free t-shirts and more. The events will take place in each of the district’s three feeder patterns.

Here are the dates and times for each Back to School Fest:

Bruin Fest - Central Hardin High School - Tuesday, July 21, 5:00-7:00 PM. Students and families from the following schools are invited to attend Bruin Fest:

• Cecilia Valley Elementary School

• Creekside Elementary School

• G.C. Burkhead Elementary School

• Lakewood Elementary School

• Lincoln Trail Elementary School

• East Hardin Middle School

• West Hardin Middle School

• Central Hardin High School

Bulldog Fest - John Hardin High School - Wednesday, July 22, 5:00-7:00 PM. Students and families from the following schools are invited to attend Bulldog Fest:

• Heartland Elementary School

• New Highland Elementary School

• Woodland Elementary School

• Bluegrass Middle School

• College View Education Center

• John Hardin High School

Trojan Fest - North Hardin High School – Thursday, July 23, 5:00-7:00 PM. Students and families from the following schools are invited to attend the Trojan Fest:

• Meadow View Elementary School

• North Park Elementary School

• Radcliff Elementary School

• Rineyville Elementary School

• Vine Grove Elementary School

• Woodland Elementary School

• James T. Alton Middle School

• North Middle School

• North Hardin High School

Open house dates and times are as follows:

High Schools

Central Hardin High School

• All events on July 30

• Bruin Academy(9th gr) Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

• LI Open House (library), 5-6 p.m.

• 10th-12th grade Open House (gym), 6-7:30 p.m.

John Hardin High School

• All events on July 30

• Special Needs Open House, 5-6 p.m.

• Open House & Back to School Bash, 6-8 p.m.

North Hardin High School

• All events on July 30

• Freshman/LI Open House, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• 10th-12th-grade Open House by Last Name

• 6:30 - 7 pm A-G

• 7 - 7:30 pm H-N

• 7:30 - 8 pm O-Z

HCS Early College & Career Center (EC3)

• August 4 Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

Middle Schools

Bluegrass Middle School

• July 28 Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

East Hardin Middle School

• 6th-grade Bruin Fun Day (students only), 2-5 p.m. July 28

• LI Open House, 5-6 p.m.July 28

• 6th grade Parent Orientation, 5-6:30 p.m. July 28

• 7th/8th-grade Open House by Last Name on July 29

• 5:00-6:00 p.m. A-M

• 6:00-7:00 p.m. N-Z

J.T. Alton Middle School

• July 27 LI Open House, 4:30-6 p.m.

• July 28 6th grade Operation Middle School (students only), 3-5:30 p.m.

• 6th grade Open House, 5:30-7 p.m. 7th/8th grade Open House, 6-7 p.m.

North Middle School

• July 28 Open House, 5-6:30 p.m.

• 6th grade Operation Middle School (students only), 10 am - 1 pm

West Hardin Middle School

• July 28 LI Open House, 4-5 p.m.

• 7th/8th grade Open House, 5-7 p.m.

• July 29 6th-grade Laker Fun Day/Open House, 4:30-7 p.m.

Elementary Schools (Preschool is included in Open House times unless noted otherwise)

Cecilia Valley Elementary School

• July 27 LI Open House, 4-5 p.m.

• Open House by Last Name 5:00-6:00 p.m. A-M

• Open House by Last Name 6:00-7:00 p.m. N-Z

• July 30 KinderCamp, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Creekside Elementary School

• July 27 LI Open House, 3-4 p.m.

• July 27 Open House by Last Name 5:00-6:00 p.m. A-L

• July 27

  Open House by Last Name 6:00-7:00 p.m. M-Z

• August 3 Kindergarten Jumpstart, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Kindergarten Parent Meeting, 8:30-9 a.m.

G.C. Burkhead Elementary School

• July 27 Kindergarten Camp, 9-11 a.m.

• Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

Heartland Elementary School

• July 24 KinderCamp, 8:30-11:30 a.m.

• July 27 K-5 Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

• August 20 Preschool Open House, 5:30 p.m.

Lakewood Elementary School

• July 27 Kinder Kamp (students only), 8:30-11:30 a.m. Kinder Kollege (parents), 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Open House, 5-7 p.m. July 27

Lincoln Trail Elementary School

• July 27 Kindercamp, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Open House by Last Name 5:30-6:30 p.m. A-M July 27

• Open House by Last Name 6:30-7:30 p.m. N-Z July 27

Meadow View Elementary School

• July 27 LI Open House, 4-5:30 p.m.

• Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

New Highland Elementary School

• July 27 LI Open House, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

• K-5 Open House, 5-7 p.m.

• August 17 Preschool Open House by Appointment

North Park Elementary School

• July 29 Kindergarten Open House by Last Name

• 5:00-5:30 p.m. A-F

• 5:45-6:15 p.m. G-L

• 6:30-7:00 p.m. M-R

• 7:15-7:45 p.m. S-Z

• August 13 Preschool Open House by Last Name

• 5:00-5:30 p.m. A-F

• 5:45-6:15 p.m. G-L

• 6:30-7:00 p.m. M-R

• 7:15-7:45 p.m. S-Z

Radcliff Elementary School

• July 27 Special Needs Open House, 4-5 p.m.

• Open House, 5-7 p.m.

Rineyville Elementary School

• July 24 Kindergarten Camp, 8-11:30 a.m.

• July 27 Open House, 5-7 p.m.

Vine Grove Elementary School

• July 27 Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.

Woodland Elementary School

• July 27 Open House, 5:30-7 p.m.