February 2026
Wake Forest Historic Half
Saturday, Feb. 28 | 7:30-10:30 am
“Share the Road” event with Associated Road & Greenway Impacts: 5:30-11:30 am; refer to event website for more information.
This is a Community Event.
Contact Brent Dorenkamp
April 2026
Forest Fest
Saturday, April 18 | 10 am-2 pm
Owen Avenue, Centennial Plaza, Town Hall parking lot, and Brooks Street (NAPA to CID building)
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: East Owen Avenue and South Brooks Street from Elm Avenue to just beyond Owen Avenue will be closed from 8 am-4 pm. Refer to event website for more information.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Erin Scholz
May 2026
Meet In the Street
Saturday, May 2 | 10 am-4 pm
Downtown Wake Forest – White Street, Owen Avenue, and Brooks Street
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 8 am-7 pm; South White Street from Wait Avenue to Elm Avenue; East Owen Avenue from South White to South Brooks Streets; South Brooks Street from East Jones Avenue to Elm Avenue
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Addison Wollett
June 2026
Cars & Carnivores Street Festival
Saturday, June 6 | 8 am-4 pm
Owen Avenue and Brooks Street
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 6 am-6 pm; East Owen Avenue and Brooks Street between Elm Avenue and Owen Avenue Extension
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Brad Walker
2026 Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 20 | 11 am-4 pm
DuBois Center, 518 N. Franklin St.
Associated Road Impacts: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Tilda Caudle
July 2026
Town of Wake Forest July 4th Children’s Parade
Saturday, July 4 | 10:30 am-Noon
N. Main Street and W. Juniper at the Wake Forest Birthplace Museum, through the seminary and ending at the Community House
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 9 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
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
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 Ave; race headquarters/expo in the Fidelity Bank parking lot, located next to East Owens
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 5:30-11 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.