The Town of Wake Forest offers area residents a wonderful array of free community events and affordable entertainment options from October through the end of the year. With no details to plan, supplies to purchase, or messes to clean up, town events and programs make it easy to meet your neighbors, make new friends, and support your community. From connecting with nature to enjoying your favorite holiday tunes, Wake Forest has it all covered.

Incredible Sights

Fall Foliage Tours: Area residents are invited to enjoy the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn while also learning about native trees during two “Fall Foliage Tours” on Wednesday, October 26, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Urban Forestry Coordinator Jennifer Rall will offer free one-hour tours at 10:00 AM and again at 2:00 PM. All ages are invited and no registration is required. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to meet at the information kiosk located adjacent to the Joyner Park parking lot. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov and search “fall foliage.”

Fearful Frights

Halloween Spooktacular: The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor its annual “Halloween Spooktacular” on Thursday, October 27 from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Flaherty Park Community Center located at 1226 N. White Street. This year’s festivities will include a costume contest, face painting, cupcake walk, pumpkin patch, and a variety of other ghostly games and activities. Free pumpkins will be given away while supplies last. The best costumes will be featured on the town’s social media pages, so get creative! This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov and search “Halloween.”

Ballroom Nights

2016 Renaissance Centre Broadway Ball: The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will celebrate its third year of providing extraordinary cultural and performing arts experiences to our community during the 2016 Renaissance Centre Broadway Ball. This highly anticipated annual event helps to fund educational scholarships and free community programing. Evening festivities will begin with a “Tour of Broadway” reception at 6:00 PM on Saturday, November 12. The “To Broadway and Back”-themed event will feature live entertainment that will keep you on the dance floor by JTL (Just a Touch of Love). The event will include a three-course meal, beer and wine (available for purchase), a silent auction, games, a photo souvenir from the evening, and more. Tickets are $50 per person or $90 per couple and are available for purchase online or at the Renaissance Centre Box Office. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov and search “Broadway Ball” or contact the Box Office at 919-435-9458.

Christmas Lights

Wake Forest truly comes alive during the Christmas season, so we’ve assembled the complete list of holiday happenings guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit. For more information on any of the holiday following events, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov and search “Christmas in Wake Forest.”
 
Lighting of Wake Forest: Area residents are invited to experience the full magic of the holiday season at the Lighting of Wake Forest on Friday, December 2. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., the event will take place from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in Centennial Plaza, 301 S. Brooks Street. This year’s ceremony will feature the lighting of a 30-feet Christmas tree by Mayor Vivian Jones, followed by Santa’s exciting arrival in a Wake Forest fire truck. The evening will also include complimentary “Pictures with Santa,” performances by local choirs, hot cocoa, and a children’s craft ac-tivity. This event is free and open to the public.

Downtown Holiday Open House: Visit historic downtown Wake Forest and experience a hearty dose of holiday cheer during the Downtown Merchant’s Holiday Open House. Sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association, the Open House will include special offers and complimentary refreshments at participating shops and restaurants, several school and dance group performances, and fun-filled activities for kids and families. Several special events and activities will also be offered throughout the day at no cost. Free pictures with Santa will be offered from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Fidelity Bank, 231 S. White Street. This event is free and open to the public.

Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market: Wake Forest ARTS and the Wake Forest Farmers Market are pleased to present the Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market, an expansion of the annual farmers market holiday craft show. The market will take place on Saturday, December 3, from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM and will feature handmade items in a wide range of prices. The Wake Forest Farmers Market winter booths will also be open as usual in front of the Renaissance Centre during the holiday market.

Christmas Historic Home Tour: Stroll down the street, listen to holiday music, visit a decorated historic home, and imagine what it must have been like in years past. The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and the Wake Forest Woman’s Club presents the 2016 Christmas Historic Home Tour on Saturday, December 3, from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Offered only in even-numbered years, this popular self-guided tour features several historic Wake Forest homes and other properties decorated for the holidays and open for viewing. This year’s event will also offer wonderful holiday music and more. Tickets will be $18 in advance (tax included) and $24 (tax included) on the day of the tour. Advanced ticket sales begin October 1. Day of Tour tickets will be available for purchase at the Wake Forest Historical Museum, located at 414 N. Main Street. The tour will take place rain or shine.

Wake Forest Children’s Choir Holiday Concert: The Wake Forest Children’s Choir will present an evening of holiday favorites under the direction of Kasie Ryan on Sunday, December 4 beginning at
3:00 PM at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts. Special music will be performed with the Northeast Piedmont Chorale. This event is free and open to the public.

Wake Forest Christmas Parade: Celebrate the holiday season at Wake Forest’s largest community event. Widely considered one of our area’s most popular holiday spectacles, Wake Forest’s annual Christmas parade features over 100 colorful floats and entries from local businesses, churches, schools, and civic groups, as well as high school marching bands, and, of course, Santa Claus! Sponsored by PowerSecure and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., the parade takes place on Saturday, December 10, at 1:00 PM and will be held rain or shine. Complete information for the Christmas parade, including the parade route, map, road closure information, and more can be found on the Wake Forest Downtown website.

Christmas Jubilee Concert: Celebrate the holiday season at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts on December 10 at 7:30 PM with Jeremy Davis and The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra. Fashioned in the style and swagger of entertainers like Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble, this big band-style orchestra is putting its own festive stamp on the holidays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors and may be purchased online or at the Renaissance Centre Box Office.

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