Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kickoff


2023 Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off
Saturday, Nov. 18 | 1-5 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. 18, from 1-5 p.m. in downtown Wake Forest! 

Free and open to the public, our Holiday Kick-Off will offer a slew of activities the entire family can enjoy, including The Carolina Hurricanes Storm Tour and Slapshot Booth, a Winter Wonderland with everyone's favorite Ice Queen and Snowman, award-winning ice carvers (ice competitions will take place at 1:15 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:45 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:15 pm in Jones Plaza) , community performances, children's craft activities, and more!  

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. 

Pictures with Santa will also be available 1:30-5 pm with advance reservations required. Please visit the Pictures with Santa page to make your reservation.

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.

 

Food

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants.

In addition, the following food trucks will be onsite: The Naked Empanada, Warehouse BBQ, Presti Pizza, Mama Churros, and Lumpy's Ice Cream

 

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 Firefighters Foundation, and Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Scholarship Program.

Donate Now

 

Kids BuckKids Care Choice

During Saturday's Holiday Kick-Off, kids ages 5-17 will have the opportunity to use a Kids Buck (shown) to vote for their favorite WF Cares initiative.

Youth can visit the WF Cares tent in front of Fidelity Bank to fill out their Kids Buck, then donate it to the "charity" of their choice.

At the end of the day, the initiative that receives the most Kids Bucks will be recognized as the 2023 Kids’ Care Choice.

In addition, every child that participates will be entered into a prize drawing. 

 

2023 WF Cares Donation Results
2023 WF Cares Holiday Kick-off
WF Cares Holiday Donation Drive

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes will be onsite at the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-off with their Storm Tour mobile fan experience and Slapshot booth!

Slapshot Booth

The Carolina Hurricanes Slapshot booth provides fun for the entire family! Think you have what it takes to score on Carolina Hurricanes Hall of Famer Cam Ward? Come test your hockey skills at the slapshot booth and see how many times you can get the puck in the targets!

Storm Tour Mobile Fan Experience 

The Storm Tour is an exclusive 28-foot mobile fan experience full of interactive Canes exhibits, history, and photo opportunities.

Experience the team like never before! The Storm Tour: A Carolina Hurricanes Experience gives fans the opportunity to suit up like a Canes player, find out what it is like to sit in the locker room before puck drop, take a photo with the replica 2005-06 Stanley Cup trophy and more!

Storm Tour elements include:

  • Canes Locker Room Photo Opportunity

  • Canes Uniform AR Mirror Photo Opportunity

  • 2005-06 Replica Stanley Cup Trophy

  • Interactive touchscreen technology with fun games and team history

  • Canes Branded Giveaways

 

 

Parking MapParking

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 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

Handicap Parking is available in the Town Hall Parking Lot located at 301 South Brooks Street from 12pm-5pm.  

 

Street Closures - Saturday, Nov. 18 

The portion of South White Street from Elm Avenue to Jones Avenue will close at 10 a.m.

East Owen Avenue will also close at 10 a.m.

 

Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kickoff
Downtown Development Director
919-435-9427
Resources
Sponsorships

Anna Bolton
Marketing & Business Relations Specialist
919-435-9422

Thank you 2023 sponsors!

Carolina Hurricanes Logo

McPherson Family Eye Care LogoBumgarner & Martin Orthodontics Logo

Mitchell Heating & Cooling Logo

Capital Chevrolet Logo

Primrose School of Heritage Wake Forest

B&W Hardware Logo

Avance Care Logo    

Thomas Walters Allstate Logo

The Butchers Market Logo

Ting Logo

    Girls Scouts - NC Coastal Pines

J Roberson HVAC Logo  

Saving Grace Logo

The College at Southeastern Logo

 Wake Forest Federal Logo

Carolina Regenerative Health Logo
 
Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce Logo

Fidelity Bank Logo