Virginia’s state sales tax holiday—helping consumers with back-to-school, emergency preparedness and energy-efficient appliance purchases—will be held on the first weekend in August.

The three-day event starts at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 6, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8.

During that period, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star and WaterSense products without paying sales tax.

Eligible items include:

—Qualified school supplies ($20 or less per item).

—Qualified clothing and footwear ($100 or less per item).

—Portable generators ($1,000 or less per item).

—Gas-powered chainsaws ($350 or less per item).

—Chainsaw accessories ($60 or less per item).

—Other specified hurricane preparedness items ($60 or less per item).

—Qualifying Energy Star or WaterSense products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use ($2,500 or less per item).

Detailed lists of quali...