Approved Special Events
July 2025
July 4 Children’s Parade
Friday, July 4, 2025: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm; North Main Street, West Juniper Avenue, South Avenue, South College Street, and Owen Avenue.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Dawn Nakash
september 2025
Ink & Drink Book Faire
Fidelity Bank Parking Lot, 231 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Saturday, September 6, 2025: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Joni Falvey
Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk
Wake Forest Birthplace Museum, 414 North Main Street
Sunday, September 28, 2025: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Roberta Smith
OctOBER 2025
Wake Forest Pride Fest
Saturday, October 11, 2025: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 8:00 am – 7:00 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 2025
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 N. Main St.
Thursday, November 27, 2025: 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 5:00 am – 11:30 am; S. Wingate St., downtown and N. Main St.
This is a “Share the Road” event.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Cat Redd
DECEMBER 2025
Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market
Centennial Plaza and Town Hall Parking Lot, 301 Brooks Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Saturday, December 6, 2025: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Kathy Street
Frosty Run
Saturday, December 13, 2025: 8:00 am – 10:30 am
Start and finish on East Owens Ave between South White and Brooks Streets.
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 6:00 am – 11:30 am; East Owens Avenue
This is a “Share the Road” event.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Brent Dorenkamp
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.