September 2026
Broadsides’ Ink & Drink Book Faire
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 11 am-3 pm
Fidelity Bank Parking Lot, 231 S. White St.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Joni Falvey
Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 2-4 pm
Wake Forest Birthplace Museum, 414 N. Main St.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Roberta Smith
October 2026
Wake Forest Pride Fest
Saturday, Oct. 10 | 11 am- 5 pm
East Owen Avenue and Brooks Street
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 7 am-6:15 pm; East Owen Avenue between South White Street and South Brooks Street; South Brooks Street from Elm Avenue to East Jones Avenue
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Samantha Luce
November 2026
Gobbler’s Run
The event starts and ends at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, 325 S. Wingate St., Wake Forest, NC 27587. The course goes through downtown and along North Main Street
Thursday, Nov. 26 | 8 am-10:30 am
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 6-11:30 am; South Wingate Street, downtown Wake Forest, and North Main Street
This is a “Share the Road” event.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Ashley Hohenberger
December 2026
Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market
Saturday, Dec. 5 | 10 am- 4pm
Centennial Plaza and Town Hall parking lot
Associated Road Impacts: 6:30 am-6 pm
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Mary Petretich
Frosty Run
Saturday, Dec. 12 | 8- 10 am
Start and finish on East Owens Avenue; race headquarters/expo in the Fidelity Bank parking lot, located next to East Owen Avenue
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 5:30-11 am; East Owen Avenue
This is a “Share the Road” event.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Brent Dorenkamp
#GatherGivesBack Holiday Toy Drive and Jeep Convoy
Meeting/Departing at The Factory in Wake Forest and driving through downtown Wake Forest and Wake Forest neighborhoods.
Sunday, December 13, 2026: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
This is a “Share the Road” event: Intersections will temporarily be blocked off for the convoy to go through causing traffic backup. Traffic alerts will be posted.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Shane Dalziel
What's the difference between a Community Event and a Town-Organized Event?
Community Events
These are approved “special events” that a business, church, community group, or other organization runs, pays for, and plans after applying for and receiving a Special Event Permit from the Town of Wake Forest. Town staff approve an event location (Festival Street/East Owen Avenue, South White Street, etc.), and may require staff from Police, Public Works, and other departments, as necessary. Community Event Organizers are invoiced for the cost of Town staff required to work the event.
Examples of Community Events include the Wake Forest Rotary Club’s Cars & Carnivores Street Festival, Wake Forest Downtown, Inc.’s Forest Fest, and the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce’s Meet in the Street.
Town-Organized Events
These are events that the Town of Wake Forest creates, pays for, and plans. Town of Wake Forest staff manage the programming, including activities, logistics, and vendors. These are often referred to as “Town Events.”
Examples of Town events include Friday Night on White, Halloween Boo Bash, and the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kickoff.