2025 Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off
Saturday, Nov. 15 | Noon-4 pm
Downtown Wake Forest
Help us ring in the holiday season and launch our annual Holiday Donation Drive during the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off on Saturday, Nov. 15, from noon-4 p.m. in downtown Wake Forest!
Free and open to everyone, our Holiday Kick-Off will offer a slew of activities the entire family can enjoy.
You will also have the chance to learn more about several Wake Forest Cares initiatives and how they are making a positive difference in our community.
While enjoying the kick-off, you are invited to Experience Downtown Wake Forest and all that it has to offer. We hope you will shop small and support local this holiday season.
View our schedule of events, activities and stage schedule on the event map.
Food
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at multiple downtown restaurants.
In addition, the following food and dessert vendors are scheduled to participate in this year's event: La Katrina Tacos, Buoy Bowls, Lawrence and Perry BBQ, Charlie’s Kabobs on Wheels, Dusty Donuts, Mr. Cannoli.
Wake Forest Cares Holiday Donation Drive
In addition to ringing in the holiday season, the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off will signal the start of our Wake Forest Cares Holiday Donation Drive.
As part of this effort, we are inviting the community to support one or more of these Town-sponsored initiatives: Helping Others by Providing Electricity (HOPE), Northern Community Food Security Team, Shop with a Cop, Wake Forest Center for Active Aging Scholarship Program, Wake Forest Firefighters Foundation, and Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Scholarship Program.
Parking
Free parking will be available along several side streets and parking lots throughout downtown Wake Forest and beyond. Please note: some parking lots may appear to be public, when in fact they are private. 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 attendees will be clearly marked.
Your best option is to take advantage of the free parking at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging or Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) has graciously made available in several campus lots. All of these lots are well with-in a 15-minute walk of South White Street.
Click the image to the right to view permitted parking in the following areas of downtown and SEBTS:
- lots between South Main Street and South College Street
- lot behind Carson Hall
- lot on Wingate Street
- lots at Stadium Drive and Rock Spring Road
Accessible Parking is available in the Town Hall Parking Lot located at 301 South Brooks Street from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Street Closures - Saturday, Nov. 15
East Owen Avenue will close at 9 a.m., along with the portion of South White Street from Elm Avenue to Jones Avenue. These roads are expected to reopen by 6 p.m.
