Looking for family fun to wrap up 2019? The Town of Wake Forest has an exciting lineup of free community events and affordable entertainment options scheduled 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. Whether you’re looking to connect with nature or enjoy your favorite holiday tunes, be sure to save these dates and get ready to enjoy a fun-filled fall in the Forest!

Angelina Ballerina: The Musical

Vital Theatre will present “Angelina Ballerina: The Musical” on Friday, October 4 at 11:00 AM and 6:30 PM at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, located at 405 S. Brooks Street. Tickets are $10 for the 11:00 AM show and $12 for the 6:30 PM performance. Angelina and her friends Alice, Gracie, AZ, Viki, and even their teacher, Ms. Mimi, are all aflutter because a special guest is coming to visit Camembert Academy. Angelina and her friends will perform all types of dance, including hip-hop, modern dance, the Irish jig, and of course, ballet, and they are excited to show off their skills to their famous visitor. Angelina is the most excited of all, but will she get the starring moment she hopes for? Based on the CG-animated series, “Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps,” “Angelina Ballerina: The Musical” is a family-friendly show that will have the entire audience dancing in the aisles. For more information, visit wakeforestrencen.org.

Wake Forest Dance Festival

For the third consecutive year, families, dance enthusiasts, and the public will celebrate dance and music during the Wake Forest Dance Festival (WFDF). This year’s event will take place Saturday, October 5 at E. Carroll Joyner Park, located at 701 Harris Road. Free and open to the public, the 2019 festival will bring a day of dance to the Triangle in a spectacular outdoor setting. WFDF showcases a diversity of dance genres, including classical ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and world dance, performed by international, national, and regional professional dancers, as well as local rising advanced dance performers. For complete details, visit wakeforestdancefestival.org.

Halloween Spooktacular

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor its annual “Halloween Spooktacular” on Thursday, October 24 from 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM at the Joyner Park Community Center at 701 Harris Road. 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 wakeforestnc.gov and search “Halloween.”

Rockin’ the Forest

Assembling some of the top musical acts in our area, Rockin’ the Forest offers audiences a chance to discover first-rate performers in a variety of musical genres. On October 11, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre welcomes Hip Pocket, followed by The Catalinas on November 8, and Steve Owens and Summertime on December 28. Future Rockin’ the Forest concerts are scheduled on January 17 (The Legacy Motown Review), February 28 (Jim Quick & Coastline), and March 27 (The Magnificents). Advance tickets are $15, but you can save $15 by purchasing the six-concert package for $75. For more information, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Rockin.”

Christmas in Wake Forest

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 following holiday events, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Christmas in Wake Forest.”

Lighting of Wake Forest

Experience the wonder and magic of the holiday season at the annual “Lighting of Wake Forest” on Friday, December 6. Sponsored by Traditions and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., the tree lighting will take place in Centennial Plaza – the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall. The festivities will get underway at 6:00 PM with the lighting of the Town’s 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, followed by Santa Claus’ exciting arrival aboard a Wake Forest fire truck. The event will also include performances by local choirs, a children’s craft activity, complimentary “Pictures with Santa” in the Town Hall lobby, and free hot cocoa and cookies while supplies last.

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 on Saturday, December 7. Sponsored by Wake Forest Downtown Inc., the event begins at 10:00 AM and will include special offers and complimentary refreshments at participating shops and restaurants, live entertainment, and fun-filled activities for kids and families. A variety of special events and activities will also be offered throughout the day at no cost, including “Pictures with Santa.”

Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market

The Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market is set for Saturday, December 7 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. ARTS Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Farmers Market are pleased to present the annual holiday market featuring handmade items in a wide range of prices.

Cratchit Family Christmas

Bright Star Theatre will present “Cratchit Family Christmas” on Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 PM at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. Sponsored by the United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County, the program is free and open to everyone. We know what happened during the Christmas that Old Ebeneezer Scrooge was visited by three spirits, but what about the next Christmas? With heartwarming excitement, we find out how the Cratchit family has fared in the year that has passed since old Scrooge learned the true meaning of the season. This tale is sure to delight young and old alike.

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 entries, including colorful floats, area high school marching bands, local businesses, churches, schools, and civic groups, and, of course, Santa Claus! Sponsored by PowerSecure and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., the parade takes place Saturday, December 14 at 1:00 PM, rain or shine.

Christmas Jubilee Concert: Live From Nashville – Merry Country Christmas

Celebrate the joy of the holiday season at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre during the Christmas Jubilee Concert: Live from Nashville – Merry Country Christmas on Saturday, December 14 at 7:00 PM and Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. It’s a merry country Christmas indeed, when all your favorite carols are presented in authentic Nashville country style with dazzling guitars and fiddles, along with soaring harmonies. The joy of Christmas comes to you in this delightful production of toe-tapping, heartfelt music. From the fun of Old Saint Nick to the profoundly moving Oh Come all Ye Faithful, and from the playful Up on the Housetop to the poignant Silent Night, songs of fun, faith, and hope are presented by the finest musicians and singers steeped in the traditions of America’s genre. Tickets are $25 plus tax. For more information, visit wakeforestrencen.org.

Stay Connected!

Always be the first to know about Town of Wake Forest announcements, programs, and special events by signing up for E-Notifier at wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx, downloading the Town of Wake Forest app at wakeforestnc.gov/app.aspx, visiting the town’s website at wakeforestnc.gov, or following the town on social media at TownofWakeForest.