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Saturday's Stamp Out Hunger food drive to help local families
The United States Postal Service and National Association of Letter Carriers will lead America’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive throughout Wake Forest on Saturday, May 9, with local support from Tri-Area Ministry and the Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST).
On that day, Wake Forest community members are encouraged to leave a bag of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before the regular distribution of mail. Letter carriers will collect the items which will be delivered to and distributed by the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, 149 E. Holding Ave.
Suggested non-perishable food items include:
- Canned vegetables, fruits, and proteins.
- Peanut butter and jelly.
- Pasta, rice, and boxed meals.
- Cereal and granola bars.
- Please note: Glass containers and expired foods will not be accepted.
Wake Forest’s participation in our nation’s largest one day food drive carries special meaning this year as many families in our area and beyond are bracing for rising food prices, cuts to SNAP benefits, and increased challenges in putting meals on the table. Donations collected in Wake Forest will stay in Wake Forest - directly supporting local families served by Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry.
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Friday Night on White continues Friday with Sleeping Booty Band
Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to downtown Wake Forest on Friday, May 8, with Sleeping Booty Band. The free outdoor event is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. along South White Street in downtown Wake Forest.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants, while a variety of food and dessert trucks will also be onsite in the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St., and along East Owen Avenue.
The remaining 2026 FNOW concerts will feature Night Years on June 12; Love Tribe on July 10; The Amazing Lounge Lizards on August 14; and Liquid Pleasure on September 11.
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“May Month of Fitness” at Joyner Park is underway with Women’s Self Defense, Cynergy Fit, Yoga & Zumba
The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will offer a free outdoor fitness series four nights a week in May at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Free and open to area residents of all ages, May Month of Fitness consists of the following weekly classes:
- Mondays - Women’s Self Defense
- Tuesdays - Cynergy Fit
- Wednesdays - Yoga
- Thursdays - Zumba
All classes are free and require no registration. Each is offered on its respective night from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park Amphitheater.
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You’re invited to Friday's grand openings of Dunn Creek Greenway Phases 3 & 4 and Miller Park
You’re invited to two ribbon cutting ceremonies on Friday, May 8, to celebrate the official openings of two highly anticipated facilities.
At 9 a.m. the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will officially open Dunn Creek Greenway Phases 3 and 4. The ceremony will take place near the Flaherty Park Playground, 1100 N. White St.
Two hours later, at 11 a.m., the PRCR Department will host a ribbon-cutting to mark the opening of Miller Park, 401 Elm Ave. That ceremony will take place behind the Wake Forest Town Hall employees’ parking lot – located behind Town Hall and just off South Taylor Street.
Free and open to everyone, both ceremonies will feature brief remarks by Mayor Ben Clapsaddle and other officials, along with light snacks.
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Wake Forest Traffic Alerts
Wait Avenue
Weekdays through May 8 | 9 am-4 pm
Fred Smith Company, a contractor working at the future site of Wake Forest Fire Station #6, will reduce to one lane with intermittent two-way traffic a portion of Wait Avenue/NC 98 in the vicinity of Middlegame Way. The temporary lane closure is necessary to allow crews to install a water line.
East Perry Avenue
Weekdays through May 8 | 7 am-4 pm
Lions Construction, Inc., will reduce to one lane with intermittent two-way traffic the portion of East Perry Avenue from North White Street to North Taylor Street. The temporary lane closure is necessary to allow crews to safely connect water and sewer lines.
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Six Sundays in Spring continues Sunday with The Tams
You’re invited to a foot-tapping, finger-snapping good time at this year's Six Sundays in Spring. Sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest and ARTS Wake Forest, the free outdoor concert series is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on consecutive Sundays from April 26 through May 31 at the Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road.
Six Sundays in Spring offers something for all music lovers. Our concert series continues with The Tams (May 10), Marcel Portilla Band (May 17), Blackwater Band (May 24), and Snapback (May 31).
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Share your knowledge of Wake Forest history & be entered to win a gift card to a local restaurant
May is Historic Preservation Month, and Wake Forest Historic Preservation is celebrating by giving you the chance to win gift cards to local restaurants simply by sharing your knowledge of Wake Forest history via the Wake Forest History Exchange (WFHE). The WFHE is a GIS-based public history map that allows community members to add stories and points of interest to the online map.
Beginning this week with a focus on “Places” and continuing with a different focus each week throughout May, you are invited to use the WFHE to share the places, people, events, and stories you believe made Wake Forest history according to the following schedule:
Week 1 (May 3-9) - Places
Share your story of places that matter to you and the history of Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Are you aware of a historic building or place of interest that has an important story to tell in Wake Forest, add the information to the map!
Week 2 (May 10-16) - People
Share your story of people who have made a difference in Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Did you have a teacher who made a difference or perhaps a grandparent? Tell us that story!
Week 3 (May 17-23) - Events
Share your story of events that have made an impact to Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Is there an event in Wake Forest history that is important to remember, let us know what it is!
Week 4 (May 24-31) - Stories
Share your story! Tell us why Wake Forest and its history are important to you!
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Work continues on Taylor Street Park Playground, reopening expected in early summer
In February, the Town of Wake Forest temporarily closed for renovation the Taylor Street Park Playground, located at 416 N. Taylor St.
Originally scheduled for completion in late spring, construction has been delayed by unique challenges unearthed by the contractor on the playground worksite. The most significant of these has been the discovery of numerous concrete footers installed several feet underground to support various facilities housed at the site over the past century or more. Since 1865, the site on which Taylor Street Park now sits has, at various times, been the location of a public school, residential duplex, volunteer fire department, water tower, basketball court, and public swimming pool.
As construction continues, officials now say they expect the work to be completed, and the park reopened in early summer. On a related note, due to its proximity to the construction site, the Taylor Street Park Sprayground will remain closed until the Taylor Street Park renovations are completed.
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Church Co-Rec Adult Softball registration is underway & continues through May
The Wake Forest PRCR Department is accepting team registrations throughout May for Church Co-Rec Adult Softball. Online registration is available via Team Sideline. The entry fee is $550 per team, and participants must be 18 or older.
Games will begin in mid-June and be played on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.
Anyone interested in participating who does not have a team can sign up as a free agent, then be assigned to a team in need of players. To register as a free agent, complete the online registration form.
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Youth Girls NFL Flag Football registration is underway, volunteer coaches needed
The Wake Forest PRCR Department is accepting Youth Girls NFL Flag Football applications for girls ages 11-18 according to the following schedule:
- May 1-7 - In-town Wake Forest residents only
- May 8-31 - Wake Forest residents & out-of-town residents
- June 1-8 - Late registration, including a $15 late fee.
Online registration is available via Team Sideline, while in-person registrations are accepted at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.
The fee is $60 for Wake Forest residents and $100 for non-Wake Forest residents.
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Registration underway for Youth & Bass Fishing Tourneys
From June 15-28, the Wake Forest PRCR Department will host a Bass Fishing Tournament for ages 13 and older and a non-competitive Youth Fishing Tournament for ages 12 and under.
Over this two-week period, local anglers can visit any public fishery in Wake or Franklin County to try and catch the biggest fish. Participants in the Youth Fishing Tournament may catch any species of fish, while anglers in the Bass Fishing Tournament will be limited to bass only.
Online registration for both tournaments is available through Monday, June 1, on RecDesk (search “fishing”). The cost to participate is $10 for the bass tournament and $5 for the youth tourney.
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Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park begin with "Shrek" May 16
The PRCR Department will host a free, monthly outdoor movie series from May through August at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. The first in the series of Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will feature "Shrek" on Saturday, May 16, at 8:30 p.m. Pre-show children's activities will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Family Movie Nights will feature a variety of family-friendly film favorites and genres, including comedies, dramas, and action, all projected on a 26-foot inflatable movie screen in the park’s amphitheater. Future film screenings are scheduled on the following Saturdays: June 13 (Zootopia 2), July 18 (Mufasa: The Lion King), and August 1 (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie). Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Anyone planning to attend is urged to arrive early as viewing space may be limited.
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Knox Homebox program gives Fire Department quicker access during emergencies
The Wake Forest Fire Department (WFFD) offers a life-saving initiative that provides firefighters with the safe and efficient entry they need into the homes of vulnerable residents during fires, medical emergencies, and welfare checks.
The Knox Homebox Program involves homeowners purchasing a steel lock box and firefighters locking their house key inside it. Fire crews have a master key that opens the box in the event of an emergency or other urgent need.
The lock box starts at $227, but as a special bonus, the WFFD will install the box at no charge.
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Stage 1 water restrictions continue
Central North Carolina is experiencing a severe drought, and that includes the watersheds that feed Falls Lake and Swift Creek. Because of the ongoing dry conditions, Raleigh Water activated Stage 1 water-use restrictions effective April 20. These restrictions apply to Wake Forest and other Raleigh Water merger communities as well.
These measures protect our water supply while allowing you to maintain your home and yard. Small changes by everyone help preserve water for drinking, healthcare, and emergency needs.
The chart below shows which common water activities are allowed and which are restricted.
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Tickets on sale for Renaissance Centre’s “Summer at the Centre”
For the third consecutive year, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre (RC), 405 S. Brooks St., will offer a series of concerts and events in June, July, and August featuring nationally-acclaimed acts and performers.
The 2026 “Summer at the Centre” Performance Series will begin with “The Embers: Featuring Craig Woolard” on Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m., continue with “America’s Sweethearts” on Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m., and conclude with “Interactive Mystery Theater: Kill the Music” on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now!
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Tickets on sale for Small is All Productions’ “Circle and Square”
Small is All Productions will present two performances of “Circle and Square” on Saturday, June 6, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Shows are scheduled at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
“Circle and Square” is a play designed for ages 2-5 and their parents/caregivers to attend and enjoy together. In this interactive, mostly nonverbal story, audiences meet free spirit “Circle” and highly structured “Square.” These two characters have a hard time figuring out how to play together because they are so different. Throughout the play, Circle and Square discover each other's unique gifts and how they can be combined to have even more fun together than apart.
Tickets are $5 for ages 6 and older and $1 for ages 5 and under and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card. Tickets may also be purchased with cash, check, or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. A limited number of tickets are available, and seating is on a first come basis.
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Stay connected by downloading the Town of Wake Forest App
The Town of Wake Forest (TOWF) offers a free smartphone app that provides direct access to useful information about Wake Forest and encourages two-way communication between the Town and its residents.
Over 19,000 Android and iPhone users have downloaded the app allowing them instant access to important information about Town programs, services and events. Among its many functions, the TOWF app allows iPhone and Android users to:
- Receive breaking news messages
- Utilize “SeeClickFix” for prompt action on street maintenance, lights, potholes and graffiti, using the app to send a photo and exact location of the problem
- Access information about Town-sponsored events and events at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre
- Access information about the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging
- View Town job openings
- Utilize the “Waste Wizard”
- Access contact information for every Town department.
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Renaissance Centre inviting artists to participate in America 250 Art Exhibit
The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., is inviting artists of all ages, abilities, and mediums to submit an original work of art that answers the question, “What does America mean to you?” for its America 250 Art Exhibit.
To learn more and/or apply, visit the Renaissance Centre website. The submission deadline is Sunday, May 24.
Designed to give visual artists an opportunity to display and sell their work in a gallery setting, the exhibit will include 64 linear feet of hanging space and a medium-sized display cabinet to showcase 2D and 3D works for art.
Selected works of art will be displayed in the Renaissance Centre Arts Annex Monday, June 8, through Friday, July 17.
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Register now for “Battle in the Forest” Esports gaming tournament May 30
The PRCR Department will host a free online Esports gaming tournament featuring the game "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" on Saturday, May 30. Presented by Brightspeed Fiber Internet, Battle in the Forest is open for players ages 10 and older and will be live streamed on Twitch.tv.
Registration is open through Wednesday, May 27. Please note: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is rated e10+.
Participants will compete in a one-on-one, single-day, double-elimination tournament to run in conjunction with "Bull City Gaming.” The matches will be best of three, while the championship match will be best of five.
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Registration continues for National Trails Day 5K/3K at Joyner Park June 6
The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Advisory Board will host a family-friendly 5K/3K walk/run as part of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Check-in on the day of the event starts at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 8 a.m. Online registration is available.
The entry fee for the 5K is $35 through May 14; $40 from May 15-June 4; and $45 the day before and day of the race.
The entry fee for the 3K is $30 through May 14; $35 May 15-June 4; and $40 the day before and day of the race.
Please note: Registrations will be accepted on the day of the event. Everyone who registers before May 8 will receive a race T-shirt.
Presented by Skylift Garage Doors, the National Trails Day 5K/3K is designed to raise funds through entry fees to support the maintenance of current greenways and the development of new greenways throughout Wake Forest.
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Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies continue June 1 with service honoring James Woodlief
The Town of Wake Forest and several local veterans’ organizations will continue their monthly flag-raising ceremonies in Town Hall’s Centennial Plaza on Monday, June 1, at 11 a.m. The 68th Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony will honor James Woodlief, who served our nation in the US Army.
Friends and members of the Woodlief family have been invited to participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying, and the ceremonial flag-raising.
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Upcoming outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app
During the warmer months of the year, the Town of Wake Forest offers an incredible array of free outdoor events and activities for the entire family. From Friday Night on White and Six Sundays in Spring to Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park and Concerts in the Park, spring and summer in Wake Forest are jam-packed with fun-filled events guaranteed to get you out of the house and make winter but a distant memory.
To help inform community members about all these events, the Town offers the Wake Forest Outdoors portal on its website. The webpage provides detailed information about our area’s most popular spring and summer happenings, including the Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies, Forest Fest, Meet in the Street, Independence Day Celebration, National Trails Day, and Good Neighbor Day - just to name a few. Offering dates, times, locations, event descriptions and more, the portal is a useful reference for anyone anxious to get outside and take advantage of Wake Forest’s array of warm weather activities.
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Seats still available for Wake Forest Fire Department CPR class on May 16
The Wake Forest Fire Department (WFFD) offers monthly American Heart Association CPR Certification classes for Wake Forest residents at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging, 235 E. Holding Ave. The next class with seating availability is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 16. The June class is full.
Attendees can enroll in a four-hour or seven-hour class. In the four-hour session (9 a.m.-1 p.m.), participants learn CPR and how to correctly use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, a medical device that can help restore a normal heartbeat in certain situations. In the seven-hour class (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), participants learn CPR, how to use an AED, and basic first aid. Students who complete either session earn American Heart Association CPR Certification.
The cost for either class is $35 per person and preregistration is required. Please note: Only community members with a Wake Forest address are eligible to enroll in these classes.
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BOC approves new rules for motorized scooters, electric bicycles & electric assisted bicycles
During its regular meeting on January 20, the Board of Commissioners voted to approve an amendment to Chapter 30, Article III Section 30-1, and 30-90 thru 30-92 of the Code of Ordinances regarding motorized scooters, electric bicycles, and electric assisted bicycles, pedestrian right-of-way, and requirements for helmets.
The updated ordinance allows motorized scooters, electric bicycles, and electric assisted bicycles to operate on shared streets, greenways, parks, multi-use paths, and bicycle lanes – but not on sidewalks. It also requires anyone under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet when operating one of these vehicles.
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Other highlights of the amended ordinance:
- Motorized scooters must have a maximum speed of no greater than 15 mph.
- Electric bicycles and electric assisted bicycles powered by motor only must have a maximum speed of no greater than 20 mph.
- A motorized scooter or an electric bicycle may not operate on any road with a speed limit over 25 miles per hour.
- No motorized scooter, electric bicycle, or electric assisted bicycle shall exceed a speed of 10 miles per hour while being operated on a greenway, in a park, or on a multi-use path.
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Spring & Summer RecConnect is now available
The March-August 2026 edition of RecConnect, the Wake Forest PRCR Department's spring and summer program guide, is now available.
Hard copies of the PRCR Program Guide are available at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.; Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.; Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road; Flaherty Park Community Center (FPCC), 1226 N. White St.; and Alston-Massenburg Center (AMC), 416 N. Taylor St.
RecConnect includes information about all cultural programs, classes, special events, sports programs, and registrations offered by the Wake Forest PRCR Department.
Registration for cultural programs is open for Wake Forest residents and non-Wake Forest residents.
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NCFST Mobile Market returns May 14 & 28
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival are pleased to provide a mobile grocery store across from the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., (typically) on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-4:30 p.m. – rain or shine.
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Wake Forest Farmers Market open Saturdays, 8 am-Noon
Over the years, the Wake Forest Farmers Market has grown into a lively community event on Saturday mornings.
From April through October, the Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon. From November through March, it is open 9 a.m.-noon.
Located along South Taylor Street, behind the Wake Forest Town Hall, the Farmers Market offers fresh-off-the-farm produce; pasture-raised beef, poultry, and pork; free-range eggs; fresh and dried herbs; honey, jams, and preserves; fresh-cut flowers and delicious baked goods.
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Special Events Policy
Special events are a key contributor to Wake Forest’s exceptional quality of life. In addition to numerous Town-organized annual events, such as Friday Night on White, Fireworks Spectacular, Good Neighbor Day, and Halloween Boo Bash, Wake Forest residents also enjoy many “Community Events.”
Community Events are Town-permitted special events in a public area (Festival Street/East Owen Avenue, South White Street, etc.) that a business, church, community group, or other organization plans, manages, pays for, and executes after applying for and receiving a Special Event Permit. Examples of “Community Events” include Meet in the Street (Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce), Cars & Carnivores (Wake Forest Rotary Club), and the Lighting of Wake Forest (Wake Forest Downtown, Inc.) – just to name a few.
As part of the Town’s process for permitting Community Events, Wake Forest staff must approve the event location and may require the involvement of Police, Public Works, and/or other Town departments, as necessary.
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Connections...100 Years of Wake Forest History on sale
The Town of Wake Forest is offering Connections…100 Years of Wake Forest History for $30 each.
Authored by Wake Forest resident and former “Wake Forest Gazette” Publisher Carol Pelosi, “Connections...100 Years of Wake Forest History” was written and released in 2009 to commemorate Wake Forest's Centennial Celebration.
Connections may be purchased online with credit card or debit card or in person at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., with cash, check, credit card or debit card. After ordering your copy, stop by the Information Desk in the lobby of Town Hall at your convenience to pick it up.
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Check out WFTV 10
WFTV 10 is on the air on Spectrum Cable Channel 10 and streaming online.
WFTV 10 is the Town of Wake Forest's government access channel serving the residents of Wake Forest. Produced by the Town's Communications Department, WFTV 10 is available to residents and businesses that subscribe to Spectrum Cable TV service. For those who don't subscribe to Spectrum Cable, WFTV 10 is also provided in real-time streaming video and as a function of the Town App.
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WFTV 10 Schedule
Board of Commissioners work sessions are broadcast live on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Work sessions are then re-broadcast over the next week at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Regular meetings are broadcast live on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., then re-broadcast daily throughout the remainder of the month at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Planning Board meetings are broadcast live on the second Tuesday of each month, then re-broadcast daily the following week at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
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Monthly meeting schedule
The following monthly meeting schedule is in effect for the Board of Commissioners and Planning Board:
Board of Commissioners Work Session
First Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting
Second Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Third Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
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“Show Some Love” by picking up litter along streets & roadways
The Town of Wake Forest is inviting individuals, families, churches and civic clubs to join the “Show Some Love, #KeepWFclean” campaign by picking up trash in their neighborhoods and along local streets and roadways. The initiative allows volunteers to pick up litter on a one-time or ongoing basis. Participants may also choose the area they wish to clean or request direction to high need areas around town.
To aid the effort, volunteers may reserve litter kits at no charge by completing the online reservation form. Each litter kit includes reflective vests, gloves, buckets, grabbers, trash bags, data collection sheets, hand sanitizer and litter education materials. A special thanks to Lightbridge Academy for donating the litter kits.
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Secure your load!
Loose trash in trucks creates litter along Wake Forest roadways.
Help keep Wake Forest roadways clean by securing any trash in your truck bed. When you throw trash in the back of your truck, it inevitably blows out and becomes litter on the roadside. In fact, half of all litter is blown, not thrown! Roadside litter costs millions of dollars to remove, decreases property values and has a negative impact on tourism.
The NC Department of Public Safety reports that an even bigger problem is unsecured loads in the back of trucks. At high speeds, even large items can fly out and hurt or startle other drivers causing accidents. Put trash into built-in containers. Use tarps, cargo nets and tie-downs to secure any loads. #KeepWFclean
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If you have questions or comments about the Town of Wake Forest website or E-News, please contact Bill Crabtree by email or call 919-435-9421.
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