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Meet in the Street returns Saturday to Downtown Wake Forest
Meet in the Street returns to downtown Wake Forest Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Coordinated by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, this premier arts & crafts, music and food festival will include more than 100 artisan booths featuring handmade items for sale, dozens of food trucks, live music throughout the day on two different stages, a children's village filled with activities for kids, and more. Admission is free.
Free parking will be available in several lots on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and along many side streets throughout downtown Wake Forest, including East Holding Avenue, South White Street (from Holding to Elm), South Brooks Street (from Holding to Elm), and South Franklin Street.
Please note: Some downtown parking lots may appear to be public, when in fact they are private, such as the Renaissance Place parking lot. Please be sure to read all signage in the parking lot to determine what type of lot you are using. Private lots are intended for business patrons only. Public lots that are open to event attendees are clearly marked.
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Flag-Raising Ceremonies continue May 6 with service honoring Gary Turner
The Town of Wake Forest and several local veterans’ organizations will continue their monthly flag-raising ceremonies in Town Hall’s Centennial Plaza on Monday, May 6, at 11 a.m.
The 53rd Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony will honor Gary Turner, who served our nation in the US Navy.
Members and friends of the Turner 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.
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Friday Night on White continues May 10 with Irresistible Groove
Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to downtown Wake Forest on Friday, May 10, with Irresistible Groove. The free outdoor concert will take place from 6-9 p.m. along South White Street in historic downtown Wake Forest.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants. A variety of food and dessert trucks will also be on site in the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St., and along East Owen Avenue.
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Wake Forest (again) appeals to parents & caregivers - we need your help during FNOW
Last July, we asked parents and caregivers to help preserve the Friday Night on White (FNOW) experience for downtown merchants and visitors by supervising their children.
The community response was largely positive - and even encouraging. During the August concert, we were cautiously optimistic that our appeal had resonated with many parents as we noted fewer unattended children and teens.
Unfortunately, that optimism was short-lived. By the September concert, the number of unattended teens and pre-teens had risen, along with the number of reported disturbances.
And now, after our first concert of 2024, we’re back (again) asking parents to…well…parent.
During our April 12 concert, FNOW organizers and police observed dozens of parents dropping off large groups of children and teens leaving them free to roam the event area and beyond without adult supervision.
If you’re guessing that many of those kids behaved badly, you guessed right. Although the evening began gloriously with picture-perfect weather, fantastic music with the Magic Pipers, and a great crowd, things changed dramatically once the sun went down. Following the intermission, police responded to two fights and several merchants reported run-ins with “rude and obnoxious” teenagers.
While we love the families that attend FNOW, it’s clear that free range parenting doesn’t work at these concerts.
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Tickets on sale for Renaissance Centre’s “Summer at the Centre” series
The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre (RC), 405 S. Brooks St., is introducing a series of concerts and special events from June through August featuring nationally renowned acts and performers.
The Summer at the Centre Performance Series gets underway with The Embers: Featuring Craig Woolard on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m., continues with Malpass Brothers concerts on Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and concludes with Murder Mystery Dinners on Saturday, Aug. 24, at noon and 6:30 p.m. (The 6:30 p.m. show is sold out.)
Tickets to these events and performances are now on sale and can be purchased online, in person at the RC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458.
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WFPD & MOD Pizza partnering to support Special Olympics May 6
The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) and MOD Pizza, 2815 Rogers Road, are joining forces to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC).
Area residents are invited to support the cause by visiting MOD Pizza on Monday, May 6, between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m.
For everyone who either mentions the fundraiser or presents the event fundraiser flyer, MOD Pizza will donate 25 percent of their food and beverage sales to support Special Olympics.
For online orders, use code MODGIVES25.
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“May Month of Fitness” to feature Women’s Self Defense, Cynergy Fit, Yoga, Zumba & Bhangra Dancing
The PRCR Department is offering a free outdoor fitness series five nights a week in May at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Free and open to residents of all ages, May Month of Fitness consists of the following weekly classes:
- Mondays – Women’s Self Defense
- Tuesdays – Cynergy Fit
- Wednesdays – Yoga
- Thursdays – Zumba
- Fridays – Bhangra Dancing
All classes are free and require no registration. Each will be offered from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park Amphitheater.
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We want to hear from you! Town seeks feedback on website upgrade
The Town of Wake Forest is updating its website, and we need your feedback!
Wake Forest is seeking input from residents, business owners, and visitors concerning what they like and don’t like about the Town website.
Through Friday, May 17, visit Engage Wake Forest to share how you currently interact with the Town online. The survey takes about five minutes to complete.
Wake Forest is planning to redesign its website over the next several months and will utilize citizen feedback to improve the design, navigation, and content.
The Town plans to unveil its new site later this year.
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NCFST Mobile Market returns May 9
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival bring a mobile grocery store to Wake Forest on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m.
Offering fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy from local and regional farmers on a pay-what-you-can scale, the NCFST Mobile Market will return to 350 E. Holding Ave. (across from the Northern Regional Center) on Thursday, May 9, and again on Thursday, May 23.
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.
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Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park begin May 25 with “Beauty and the Beast”
The PRCR Department will host a free, monthly outdoor movie series from May through August at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. The first in the series of Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will feature the 1991 animated version of the film “Beauty and the Beast” on Saturday, May 25, at 8:30 p.m.
Family Movie Nights will feature a variety of family-friendly film favorites and genres, including comedies, dramas, and action, all projected on a 26-foot inflatable movie screen in the park’s amphitheater. Future film screenings are scheduled on the following Saturdays: June 15 (Minions: The Rise of Gru), July 20 (Kung Fu Panda 4), and August 3 (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Anyone planning to attend is urged to arrive early as viewing space may be limited.
Family Movie Nights are free and open to the public. Each will also include a movie-related pre-show activity for kids beginning at 7:30 p.m.
In addition, assorted food vendors will be on site selling snacks and refreshments.
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Registration continues for National Trails Day 5K/3K at Joyner Park
The PRCR Advisory Board will host a family-friendly 5K/3K walk/run as part of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 1, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Check-in on the day of the event starts at 7 a.m., and the races begin at 8 a.m.
The National Trails Day 5K/3K is a timed walk/run for children and adults. A loop of the paved trails throughout Joyner Park will comprise the 3.1-mile course for the 5K and 1.8 mile course for the 3K. Strollers are welcome but will be placed at the back of the pack to allow runners a clear start.
The entry fee for the 5K is $30 from April 1-May 14; $35 from May 15-30; and $40 the day before and day of the race. The entry fee for the 3K is $25 from April 1-May 14; $30 May 15-30; and $35 the day before and day of the race. Everyone who registers before May 15 will receive a race T-shirt.
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Still time to register for “Battle in the Forest” Esports gaming tournament May 18
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host an online Esports gaming tournament featuring the game "Tekken 8" on Saturday, May 18.
Presented by Ting Internet, the Battle in the Forest tournament will serve as a qualifier for the BODYARMOR State Games FGC Gohon Kumite eSports Tournament in August. Results from this tournament will determine participant positioning in the BODYARMOR tournament.
Open to players ages 13 and older, the online tournament is free to play on all consoles and PCs and will be live streamed on Twitch.tv. Registration is open through Wednesday, May 15. Please note: Tekken 8 is rated “T” for “Teen.”
Participants will compete in a one-on-one, single-day, double-elimination tournament to run in conjunction with "Bull City Gaming” and BODYARMOR State Games. The matches will be best of three, while the championship match will be best of five.
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Registration continues for Youth & Bass Fishing Tourneys
From June 3-16, the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host a Bass Fishing Tournament for ages 13 and older and a non-competitive Youth Fishing Tournament for ages 12 and under. Over this two-week period, local anglers can visit any public fishery in Wake or Franklin County to try and catch the biggest fish. Participants in the Youth Fishing Tournament may catch any species of fish, while anglers in the Bass Fishing Tournament will be limited to bass only.
Online registration for both tournaments is available through Monday, May 20 (search “fishing”). The cost to participate is $10 for the bass tournament and $5 for the youth tourney. For more information, email Community Center Supervisor Grayson Pridgen.
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Taylor Street Park Sprayground now open
Taylor Street Park Sprayground, 416 N. Taylor St., is now open for the 2024 season. Free and open to the public, the sprayground will operate according to the following schedule through Friday, June 7:
- Sundays, 1-8 p.m.
- Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Please Note: The sprayground will be open Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The facility will offer extended hours beginning Saturday, June 8. To view the 2024 operating schedule, visit our website.
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Register now for Historic Preservation Month Walking Tours
The Town of Wake Forest is celebrating Historic Preservation Month in May by offering free walking tours of the Northeast Community, Local Historic District (North Main Street), and South Main Street.
The Local Historic District and South Main Street tours are full, but a few slots are still available for the tour of the Northeast Community.
Pre-registration is required by completing the online sign-up form. Space is limited to the first 15 participants to sign up. For complete details, visit our website.
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NWSC to host free Expressive Arts Series Saturday mornings in May & June
The Town of Wake Forest, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, and Resources for Seniors are partnering with Village of C.A.R.E. to offer a free Expressive Arts Series at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave., from 10 a.m.-noon on the following Saturdays in May and June: May 4, 11, 18 and June 1, 15, 22, and 29.
Open to families and people of all ages, the intergenerational arts classes will encourage participants to discover how expressive arts can be therapeutic and foster meaningful connections by creating their own music, paintings, poetry, ceramics, quilting, dances, and more.
Online registration is required. For more information, call 919-714-3854.
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2024 Age & Dementia-Friendly Education Series continues June 8 with Senior Expo for Caregivers & Seniors
The Northern Wake Senior Center and the Wake Forest Senior Information Networking Group (SING) are partnering to host a series of free classes, workshops, and other events over the next several months to raise awareness about aging, Alzheimer’s, and related dementias.
Each event in the 2024 Age & Dementia Education Series will offer attendees the opportunity to learn about dozens of aging and dementia-related programs, services, products, and resources – all at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave.
These free events are scheduled from 9-11:30 a.m., and no registration is required.
The series continues Saturday, June 8, with "The Senior Expo for Caregivers & Seniors." This comprehensive event will be aimed at providing resources, information, and support for both caregivers and seniors. Attendees will explore a range of exhibitors tailored to address the unique needs and challenges faced by seniors and their caregivers. The Senior Expo offers a one-stop destination for empowering our local community to navigate the journey of aging with confidence and dignity.
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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.
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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.
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Outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app
From March through September, 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.
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#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.
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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.
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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.
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Check out WFTV 10
WFTV 10 is on the air on Spectrum Cable Channel 10 and streaming online.
WFTV 10 is the Town of Wake Forest's government access channel serving the residents of Wake Forest. Produced by the Town's Communications Department, WFTV 10 is available to residents and businesses that subscribe to Spectrum Cable TV service. For those who don't subscribe to Spectrum Cable, WFTV 10 is also provided in real-time streaming video and as a function of the Town App.
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WFTV 10 Schedule
Board of Commissioners work sessions are broadcast live on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Regular meetings are broadcast live on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., then re-broadcast daily throughout the remainder of the month at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Planning Board meetings are broadcast live on the second Tuesday of each month, then re-broadcast daily the following week at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
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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 April-September, the Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon along South Taylor Street behind the Wake Forest Town Hall.
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Transportation Planning 101
The Town of Wake Forest Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) addresses regional traffic issues from the surrounding areas as well as alternative transportation methods, such as buses, greenways, and trains.
Check out the video above on our Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) to learn more about how transportation projects are selected and funded. For more information, visit our Transportation Planning web page.
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Monthly meeting schedule
The following monthly meeting schedule is now in effect:
Board of Commissioners Work Session
First Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting
Second Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Third Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
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“Show Some Love” by picking up litter along streets & roadways
The Town of Wake Forest is inviting individuals, families, churches and civic clubs to join the “Show Some Love, #KeepWFclean” campaign by picking up trash in their neighborhoods and along local streets and roadways. The initiative allows volunteers to pick up litter on a one-time or ongoing basis. Participants may also choose the area they wish to clean or request direction to high need areas around town.
To aid the effort, volunteers may reserve litter kits at no charge by completing the online reservation form. Each litter kit includes reflective vests, gloves, buckets, grabbers, trash bags, data collection sheets, hand sanitizer and litter education materials. A special thanks to B&W Hardware for donating the litter kits.
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Secure your load!
Loose trash in trucks creates litter along Wake Forest roadways.
Help keep Wake Forest roadways clean by securing any trash in your truck bed. When you throw trash in the back of your truck, it inevitably blows out and becomes litter on the roadside. In fact, half of all litter is blown, not thrown! Roadside litter costs millions of dollars to remove, decreases property values and has a negative impact on tourism.
The NC Department of Public Safety reports that an even bigger problem is unsecured loads in the back of trucks. At high speeds, even large items can fly out and hurt or startle other drivers causing accidents. Put trash into built-in containers. Use tarps, cargo nets and tie-downs to secure any loads. #KeepWFclean
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If you have questions or comments about the Town of Wake Forest website or E-News, please contact Bill Crabtree by email or call 919-435-9421.
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