Fireworks, games, live entertainment, and a whole lot more awaited you at this year’s Fourth of July celebration!
Now in its 40th year, Wake Forest’s Independence Day celebration is one of our area’s most eagerly-anticipated summer-time events serving up two days-worth of fun and excitement for the entire family.
FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR
This year, the revelry gets underway with the Fireworks Spectacular on Tuesday, July 3, at Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road.
Gates open at 5 p.m. and admission is $5 per person. Children ages six and under are admitted free.
PLEASE NOTE: No alcoholic beverages, smoking, or pets are permitted on the Heritage High School campus.
Tickets
Tickets cost $5 each, but as a special offer you can also purchase five tickets for $20. Advance tickets will go on sale in mid-June.
Parking
Handicap parking (by identification only) and regular parking are available on the school campus.
PLEASE NOTE: Parking is not permitted along Forestville Road or in the Heritage Station parking lot.
Food and Concessions
Concessions, including hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, and snow cones will be available at the Fireworks Spectacular. Picnic baskets and/or coolers are allowed but will be inspected by the Wake Forest Police Department before being permitted inside the stadium. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited on the Heritage High School campus.
Families are welcome to tailgate in the parking lot, but everyone that comes onto the school campus must be a paying spectator.
Entertainment
The evening's festivities will get underway with a performance by local talent Doppler Effect. The Band of Oz, one of the southeast’s most popular beach music bands and a 1997 Beach Music Hall of Fame inductee, will again headline this year’s celebration. Other performances will include Don Carrington’s Parachute Team and the Friendship Chapel Choir. Jim Dyer is back this year to serve as the evening's emcee.
But what about the fireworks? Not to worry! This year’s fireworks will be bigger and better than ever and are sure to provide a thrilling end to an unforgettable evening.
CHILDREN’S PARADE
The fun continues on Wednesday, July 4, with the annual Children’s Parade. The lineup began at 10 a.m. at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue, near the Wake Forest College Birthplace. No registration is required!
The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. along North Main Street. All area youngsters are invited to hop on their bicycles or be pulled along in a wagon as part of a “walking parade” designed just for them! Participation in the Children’s Parade is free, but bicyclists must wear their helmets!
The parade route extends from North Main Street to Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave. - once again, the site for Art-in-the-Park and Games-in-the-Park.
ART-IN-THE-PARK & GAMES-IN-THE-PARK
Beginning at 11 a.m., children of all ages will have the opportunity to create a variety of interesting arts and crafts projects, and join in a slew of games and activities offered at Holding Park. Some of the game activities will include sack races, watermelon seed spitting contest, and a pie eating contest. Arts and crafts activities include decorating a sun visor, patriotic magnet, cupcake, and treat bag.
Wake Forest police will offer a child identification booth and a K9 unit demonstration, while the Wake Forest Fire Department will have a fire truck on display.
All activities on July 4 are free and concessions will be available at Holding Park.
FOURTH OF JULY PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Wake Forest Fourth of July Planning Committee is an all-volunteer organization formed for the purpose of coordinating and producing Wake Forest’s annual Fourth of July celebration. The event is funded by gate receipts from the previous year’s celebration, along with the generous contributions of area businesses and the Town of Wake Forest.
Volunteers are needed for this year's celebration. If interested, contact Rhonda Alderman at (919) 556-4436 or fireworklady@aol.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this year's 4th of July Celebration, contact Rhonda Alderman at (919) 556-4436 or fireworklady@aol.com.