March 22, 2024

Soggy forecast forces changes to Easter Eggstravaganza

We’ve been keeping a close eye on Saturday’s weather forecast for our Easter Eggstravaganza!

For now, our event is still on, but due to the heavy rains expected overnight, we have no choice but to offer a scaled down version that includes a few fairly significant changes.

First, we will close the overflow parking area, so no one will be allowed to park on the grass at Joyner Park.

That includes food trucks.

Since the food trucks were going to be parked in the grass, we've had to cancel them, along with the DJ, arts and crafts activities, and performers who are unable to safely perform in the rain.

It's unfortunate the weather isn't cooperating, but we will do our best to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone who comes out. For those of you planning to join us, please be patient as parking will likely be limited.

In the event inclement weather forces us to cancel our Easter Eggstravaganza, we will announce that decision as early as possible. As always, updated information will be posted on the Town website, Nextdoor site, and Facebook page.

Smart phone users who have downloaded the Town app will also receive a push notification message concerning any schedule changes. So, if you

haven’t yet downloaded the Town app, now’s the perfect time to join the over 7,000 others who have!

Again, we will make every effort to proceed with the event as scheduled. But, if we are forced to cancel, we will host a Spin & Win Easter Giveaway on Tuesday, March 26, from 3-6 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.

Egg-Ceptional Egg Hunt Saturday 

Join us at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, for our Egg-Ceptional Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m.

Weather permitting, this egg hunt will provide a fun, safe, family-friendly environment for children who may have difficulty participating in a traditional egg hunt.

For more information, call the PRCR Department at 919-435-9560.

2024 Good Friday Holiday Schedule

The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Friday, March 29, in observance of Good Friday. Curbside trash and recycling collection will not be affected by the holiday, but yard waste collection will be suspended. 

During the week of March 25, the collection of all yard waste routes, including Friday’s route, will occur Monday-Thursday, March 25-28. To ensure that all neighborhoods are serviced properly, all residents are urged to leave their normal yard waste behind the curb by 7 a.m. Monday, March 25. As always, please avoid placing items on or near mailboxes, utility boxes, utility poles or other fixed objects.

The Wake Forest-Raleigh Express will operate as usual on Friday, March 29, but the Wake Forest Loop will not. The Loop will resume its normal schedule Saturday, March 30.

Town offices will re-open April 1 at 8 a.m.

NCFST Mobile Market returns March 25

The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival typically bring their mobile grocery store to Wake Forest on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m.

However, this month's schedule is different. Due to Good Friday, the NCFST Mobile Market will return to 350 E. Holding Ave. (across from the Northern Regional Center) on Monday, March 25.

Open to everyone, the pay-what-you-can mobile grocery store makes fresh and local produce, proteins, dairy, eggs, and other food products accessible and affordable to all, regardless of their budget.



At checkout, shoppers will be given a suggested total. Shoppers can then pay the full amount, a portion of that amount, or nothing at all. Both cash and card payments are accepted, along with Android/Apple Pay.

WFPD & Torchy’s Tacos partnering to support Special Olympics March 25

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) and Torchy’s Tacos, 505 Dr. Calvin Jones Hwy., are again joining forces to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC).

Area residents are invited to support the cause by visiting Torchy’s Tacos on Monday, March 25, between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. For everyone who either mentions the fundraiser or presents the fundraiser flyer, Torchy’s will donate 15 percent of their food and beverage sales to support Special Olympics.

The WFPD also accepts SONC donations year-round. All funds raised go to SONC as part of The Law Enforcement Torch Run. For more information, contact Sgt. J. McArthur at 919-554-6150.

Still time to nominate your favorite tree for 2024 Tree of the Year

The Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is celebrating Arbor Day this year by again offering a contest for tree lovers across Wake Forest. From now through Sunday, March 31, the UFD is accepting nominations from residents for the Wake Forest 2024 Tree of the Year award.

Trees may be nominated for their size, species, historic significance, personal meaning, community benefit or general notoriety – but they must be located within the Wake Forest town limits.

To submit your choice, visit our website, complete the nomination form, and upload a photo of your tree. Finalists will be selected by Town staff, then voted on by the community during the week of April 8.



The tree that receives the most votes will be announced as the winner during Forest Fest on Saturday, April 20. The person who submits the winning tree will receive a certificate crowning their tree as the Wake Forest 2024 Tree of the Year.

Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies resume April 1 with service honoring David Cooke

The Town of Wake Forest and several local veterans’ organizations will resume their monthly flag-raising ceremonies in Town Hall’s Centennial Plaza on Monday, April 1, at 11 a.m.

The 52nd Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony will honor David Cooke, who served our nation in the US Marine Corps.

Members of Cooke’s family have been invited to participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying, and the ceremonial flag-raising.

PRCR partnering with Pickles and Play to host 2024 Wake Forest Spring Smash Pickleball Tourney May 3-5

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is partnering with Pickles and Play to host the 2024 Wake Forest Spring Smash Pickleball Tournament Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, at the Flaherty Park Pickleball Courts and Tennis Complex, 1226 N. White St.

The entry fee is $45 per player, plus $10 for each additional event. The registration deadline is Sunday, April 28. For more information, email Tournament Director Lisa Groeschner.

Wake Forest Police warn residents (again) about Apple Pay, Venmo & other electronic payment scams

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is again urging residents to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following recently reported phone scams involving Venmo and Apple Pay.

Residents who were recently involved in a traffic accident have reported receiving calls from someone posing as a Wake Forest Police officer who claims they owe money for missing a subsequent court date. According to various reports, the caller says a warrant has been issued for their arrest, or soon will be, but they can pay a fine now via Apple Pay, Venmo, or some other form of electronic payment and avoid being arrested.



Neither the WFPD nor any other government agency make such calls, nor would they ever ask anyone to make a payment via Apple Pay, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Green Dot cards, store gift cards, Playstation/Xbox cards, Apple iTunes gift cards, Bitcoins, or any other electronic payment app. These types of scams are designed to exploit fear and pressure victims into making payments to scammers.

Registration underway for 50-Mile Walking Challenge

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will commemorate “National Physical Fitness Month” in May by offering a 50-Mile Walking Challenge for area residents ages 11 and older.

Residents who accept the walking challenge commit to walk at least 50 miles in May and use a tracking card to record their progress. Walking locations may include neighborhoods, schools, churches, parks, and greenways - just to name a few.

There is no cost to participate, and online registration is open through Friday, April 26, via RecDesk (search “Walking Challenge”). Tracking cards will be emailed to all registered participants and available for pickup at Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road.

The first 100 participants to complete at least 50 miles and return their completed tracking cards to JPCC by Monday, June 3, will receive a 50-Mile Walking Challenge T-shirt.

Memorial Day Remembrance Wall of Honor submissions accepted through April 14

Throughout May, the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will present Memorial Day Remembrance Walls of Honor at E. Carroll Joyner Park, Alston-Massenburg Center, and Flaherty Park. In recognition of the service and sacrifice of women and men in uniform, these Walls of Honor will bear the names of as many as 500 veterans submitted by members of our community.

Through Sunday, April 14, the PRCR Department will accept submissions, including the names of veterans, both living and deceased, along with the military branch in which they served, for inclusion on each wall. Please note: Names included on the Walls of Honor in previous years will be included again this year and do not need to be resubmitted.

There is no cost and no limit to the number of veterans each person can submit.

Flaherty Park Tennis Courts lighting upgrades to begin Monday

On Monday, March 25, Walter Holmes Electric, a contractor working on behalf of the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department, will begin upgrading the lights at the Flaherty Park Tennis Courts, 1226 N. White. St. A 2022 Wake Forest Bond Referendum initiative, the Relamp Project will involve upgrading the courts’ lighting system to modern, energy-efficient fixtures to enhance visibility and safety for players and spectators.

The total cost of the project is $178,511.

Slated for completion in early April, the work is scheduled during daylight hours to minimize disruption to nearby residents, but there may be times when evening work is necessary.

In addition, the work may require crews to temporarily close several courts, but at least four of the complex’s eight courts will remain available for play at all times. The pickleball courts will not be affected.

Today's the deadline to complete PRCR’s “Parks & Facilities Satisfaction Survey”

The PRCR Department and the PRCR Advisory Board are updating the 2015 PRCR Master Plan through “Play It Forward Wake Forest,” a campaign to raise awareness about the initiative and encourage community participation in the process.

Citizen input is the cornerstone of “Play It Forward,” so we want to hear from you. You’re invited to visit Engage Wake Forest and complete Community Survey #3 to rate your satisfaction with Wake Forest parks and facilities.

The survey is available through Friday, March 22, and takes less than 30 minutes to complete.

Wake Forest partnering with DHIC, Inc. to offer free Homeownership Counseling Services

The Town of Wake Forest and DHIC, Inc. (formerly Downtown Housing Improvement Corporation) are partnering to offer free homeownership counseling services to Wake Forest residents earning less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Designed for residents finding it difficult to purchase a home or make payments on a home, the free counseling services include Pre-Purchase & Post-Purchase Counseling; Financial Capability Counseling; and Homebuyer Workshops.

Men’s Church Softball registration continues through March

The PRCR Department is accepting team registrations throughout March for Men’s Church Softball. Online registration is available.

The entry fee is $550 per team, and the league is limited to participants ages 18 and older. Beginning in mid-April, league games will be played primarily on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Anyone interested in participating who does not have a team can sign up as a free agent, then assigned to a team in need of players. To register as a free agent, complete the online registration form.  

Magic Pipers to kick off Friday Night on White April 12

Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to downtown Wake Forest on April 12 and continues the second Friday night of each month through September 13. This year’s FNOW promises to be bigger and better than ever thanks to a power-packed lineup featuring several of our area’s most popular bands.

Our 2024 concert series includes The Magic Pipers (April 12); Irresistible Groove (May 10); Bounce! Party Band (June 14); The Brickhouse Band (July 12); Sleeping Booty (August 9); and Crush (September 13). Each concert is scheduled from 6-9 p.m.

WF Fire Department Fish Fry April 19

Mark your calendar for this year's Wake Forest Fire Department Fish Fry on Friday, April 19, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. – or until all the fish plates are sold - at Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave.

Plates are $10 each and will include generous portions of fried flounder, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Cash, check, and credit card accepted. Fish fry proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest Firefighters Foundation.

No preorders will be accepted, but both eat in and drive thru take-out options will be available.  Desserts will be sold separately for guests dining inside.

Delivery service is available for orders of 15 plates or more.

A special part of this year's Fish Fry will be a food drive to benefit the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Throughout the day, the WFFD will collect non-perishable food items to help feed hungry people in our community.

Free Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling Event coming to Northern Wake Senior Center April 20

The Town of Wake Forest will host a Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave.

Sponsored by Civic Federal Credit Union, the paper shredding portion of the event will offer area residents and businesses the opportunity to protect themselves from identity theft and dispose of confidential documents in an environmentally responsible manner.

As part of the electronics recycling effort, residents can properly dispose of items that may otherwise end up in landfills. Accepted items include, but are not limited to, laptops, servers, cell phones, mainframes, circuit boards, keyboards, VCRs, electric typewriters, and radios. To view a complete list of accepted items, visit our website.

Beatlesque to kick off 30th Anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring April 28

You’re invited to help celebrate three decades of foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 30th anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring. Sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest and ARTS Wake Forest, the free outdoor concert series will be offered from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on consecutive Sundays from April 28 through June 2 at the Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road.

From big band and R&B to beach and jazz, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Spring. Beatles tribute band, Beatlesque, will kick off this year’s performances on Sunday, April 28, followed by Eduardo and the Paco Band on May 5, Soul Pyschedelique Orchestra on May 12, Marcus Anderson on May 19, The Magnificents on May 26, and Sensory Expressions Band on June 2.

Upcoming outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app

Beginning with the Easter Eggstravaganza on March 23 and continuing through Good Neighbor Day on September 21, the Town of Wake Forest offers an incredible array of free outdoor events and activities for the entire family. From Friday Night on White and Six Sundays in Spring to Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park and Concerts in the Park, spring and summer in Wake Forest are jam-packed with fun-filled events guaranteed to get you out of the house.

To help inform area residents about all these events, the Town offers the Wake Forest Outdoors portal on its website. The webpage provides detailed information about our area’s most popular spring and summer happenings, including the Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies, Forest Fest, Meet in the Street, Independence Day Celebration, National Trails Day, and Good Neighbor Day - just to name a few. Offering dates, times, locations, event descriptions and more, the portal is a useful reference for anyone anxious to get outside and take advantage of Wake Forest’s array of warm weather activities.

In addition, Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to this year’s spring and summer events in the palm of their hands by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s "Wake Forest Outdoors" function.

Public Art Commission introduces Pre-Qualified Artist Registry

The Wake Forest Public Art Commission (PAC) is inviting artists and artist teams to apply for its new Pre-Qualified Artist Registry.

The registry will serve as a resource for the PAC’s selection of artists and artist teams to create Wake Forest cultural and public art projects. It will make the process for responding to calls for artists more efficient by providing access to a predetermined network of qualified professional artists. The registry will also strengthen and streamline PAC efforts by maintaining a database of artists with specific skill sets.



Artists and artist teams may apply at any time but must be pre-qualified to be considered for public art opportunities with the Town of Wake Forest.

Spring & Summer RecConnect now available

The March-August 2024 edition of RecConnect, the Wake Forest PRCR Department's spring and summer program guide, is now available.

Hard copies of the PRCR Program Guide are now available at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.; Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.; Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road; Flaherty Park Community Center (FPCC), 1226 N. White St.; and Alston-Massenburg Center (AMC), 416 N. Taylor St.

2024 State of the Town Address now airing on WFTV 10 & streaming online

Mayor Vivian Jones’ 2024 State of the Town Address is now airing three times daily on Wake Forest TV 10. The mayor’s 35-minute speech, which began with "I am pleased to report that the State of Wake Forest is excellent," can be viewed on WFTV 10 from now through March at 8 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. The address is also provided in streaming video on the homepage of the Town website.

Mayor Jones delivered the annual address to over 200 people during the State of the Town Address & Dinner on February 19. Emceed by Wake Forest Renaissance Centre Director Debbie Dunn, the event was sponsored for the 15th consecutive year by the Wake Forest Rotary Club.

Holding Park Inclusive Playground now open

The Holding Park Inclusive Playground, 133 W. Owen Ave., officially opened to the public on March 2. The playground is now open daily from dawn to dusk.

Wake Forest ROCKS!

A lively community, with heartwarming service and rich recreation opportunities are just a few of the reasons why Wake Forest ROCKS!

Wake Forest Disc Golf Course

Wake Forest's new disc golf course is open year-round for free use to the public Monday-Friday from 4 p.m.-dusk, and Saturdays and Sundays from dawn to dusk.

The rules for disc golf are similar to traditional golf by way of scoring and etiquette. Standing on what is generally a five-foot by 12-foot concrete tee pad, a player aims their disc towards a disc golf basket that’s placed from distances between 150 to 570 feet from the tee pads.

These discs differ from non-competitive discs in that they have a thinner profile and a sharper outer edge to increase aerodynamics and distance. Different discs are used for different parts of the course.

Just like with mainstream golf, the idea is to complete the course in the fewest throws.

Connections...100 Years of Wake Forest History on sale

The Town of Wake Forest is offering Connections…100 Years of Wake Forest History for $30 each.



Authored by Wake Forest resident and “Wake Forest Gazette” Publisher Carol Pelosi, “Connections... 100 Years of Wake Forest History” was written and released in 2009 to commemorate Wake Forest's Centennial Celebration.

A treasure trove of pictures, original artwork, and stories recording the people, places, and events of Wake Forest’s first 100 years, the photo-filled hardcover book chronicles the town’s rich history and details its growth from a small college town to a thriving community of more than 50,000 residents.

Connections may be purchased online with credit card or debit card or in person at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., with cash, check, credit card or debit card. After ordering your copy, stop by the Information Desk in the lobby of Town Hall at your convenience to pick it up.

Engraved bricks make great gifts!

The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase an engraved brick paver.

The 4" x 8" engraved brick pavers cost just $125 each and once ordered become a permanent part of the Wake Forest Town Hall Centennial Plaza - to be viewed and enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come.

Located along South Brooks Street, Centennial Plaza is the focal point of Wake Forest's municipal campus and a gateway to town hall.

Here's your chance to join over 100 local businesses, civic clubs, residents and former residents that have already purchased a personalized brick. Engraved bricks are a unique way to honor loved ones, commemorate special events and recognize civic clubs and social groups, youth athletic teams, businesses and not-for-profit groups.

#RecycleRightWF

In 2021, the Town of Wake Forest launched #RecycleRightWF, a comprehensive public education campaign on proper recycling behaviors. Through a series of easy-to-understand messages, the initiative attempted to simplify the recycling process and improve the quality of materials residents place in their rollout recycling carts.

Thanks to the invaluable cooperation and efforts of residents, Wake Forest recorded a significant decrease in recycling contamination over the next year.



In recent months, however, officials have noticed a steady increase in the number of contaminated recyclables in recycling carts throughout Wake Forest. As a result, the Town is reintroducing #RecycleRightWF.

The effort will address contamination by providing Wake Forest households with direct mail pieces, social media messaging, and concentrated feedback. Messaging will consistently remind residents who recycle to “Stick with These 6” - plastic bottles, jugs, and jars; metal cans; paper; and cardboard, and “Never These 9” - plastic bags, food waste, cups, to-go containers, paper towels, tiny things, plastic packaging, Styrofoam, and gloves/masks.

Northern Wake Senior Center - Adding Shine to Your Golden Years

The Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave., offers adults age 55 and older a full schedule of recreational activities, such as aerobics, line dancing, ballroom dancing, wood carving, painting, and craft making.



The center also provides several social events each month, as well as educational classes on subjects including computers, ceramics, and clay.

Town of Wake Forest app

The Town of Wake Forest (TOWF) offers a free smartphone app that provides direct access to useful information about Wake Forest and encourages two-way communication between the Town and its residents.

Over 6,000 Android and iPhone users have downloaded the app allowing them instant access to important information about Town programs, services and events.

Among its many functions, the TOWF app allows iPhone and Android users to:

• Receive breaking news messages;
• Utilize “SeeClickFix” for prompt action on street maintenance, lights, potholes and graffiti, using the app to send a photo and exact location of the problem;
• Access information about Town-sponsored events and events at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre;
• View Town job openings;
• Utilize the “Waste Wizard;”
• Access contact information for every Town department.

Android and iPhone users can access and install the correct version of the TOWF app by scanning the appropriate QR code below.

Wake Forest Farmers Market

The Wake Forest Farmers Market is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating our community about the value of local farms and the importance of local food systems.

From October-March, the Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon along South Taylor Street behind the Wake Forest Town Hall.