Wake Forest Social District set to launch June 5

Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:36am

Beginning at noon on Thursday, June 5, the Wake Forest Social District will go live and operate Thursdays through Saturdays, from noon to 9 p.m.

The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners approved the Wake Forest Social District ordinance on March 18. It allows individuals who are 21 years or older to purchase alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, malt beverages, unfortified wine, fortified wine, spirituous beverages, and mixed beverages) from participating ABC-permitted businesses and enjoy them in other establishments and designated outdoor areas within the social district. 

The Wake Forest Social District is comprised of the following geographic area:

  • South White Street from East Roosevelt Avenue to just beyond Elm Avenue;

  • Wait Avenue from South White to East Roosevelt;

  • East Jones Avenue from South White to South Brooks Street;

  • East Owen Avenue from George’s Pizzeria to South Brooks;

  • Elm Avenue from South White to South Taylor Street; and

  • South Brooks from Wait Avenue to beyond Elm Avenue including Renaissance Place

These boundaries will be clearly marked with signage at prominent exit points of the district. The signs include the social district hours and boundaries, along with telephone numbers for Alcohol Law Enforcement and the Wake Forest Police Department.  

To participate in the Wake Forest Social District, customers can order a drink in a required social district cup, which includes the designated social district sticker, from any business with a blue “Sold Here” decal on its door. Customers will then be able to enjoy that beverage within the boundaries of the Wake Forest Social District and at businesses with a green “Welcomed Here” decal on their doors. If a business has a red “Not Permitted” decal on its door or does not have a decal, then social district beverages are not allowed. 

The sticker on the social district cup will specify which business sold the drink with the cup, as well as what time and day the drink was purchased. It will also have “Drink Responsibly - Be 21” printed on the exterior of the cup. Cups filled with alcoholic beverages will not be allowed to leave the permitted district. 

Participants in the Wake Forest Social District are encouraged to note the following:

  • Personal containers are not permitted.

  • You cannot bring your own alcohol in the social district to consume.

  • All alcoholic beverages consumed in the social district must be consumed from the required social district cup.

  • No alcohol is permitted on the Town Hall campus, including Centennial Plaza and all parking lots.

  • You must adhere to all “No Alcohol in Open Containers Beyond This Point” signs by disposing of your social district cup before exiting the social district or entering a vehicle. 

Complete information about the Wake Forest Social District is available on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFSocialDistrict. The web page includes a map of the social district, examples of business participation signage and the social district cup, a complete list of rules and requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions. The page will soon include a complete listing of participating businesses as those that elect to opt in complete and submit the Social District Registration Form.

For more information, email socialdistrict@wakeforestnc.gov.