Forest Fest & Tree Seedling Giveaway coming to Downtown Wake Forest Saturday

The Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Downtown, Inc. are inviting area residents to Forest Fest this Saturday, April 23. Celebrating the heart and history of Wake Forest, this free family-friendly event is scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – rain or shine – in locations throughout downtown Wake Forest, including East Owen Avenue, in Centennial Plaza, and in the Town Hall parking lot.

Offering something for everyone, Forest Fest will include the Wake Forest Guild of Artists Spring Art Market at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., and extended hours by the Wake Forest Farmers Market (8 a.m.-2 p.m.) along South Taylor Street – behind Town Hall.

The Wake Forest Historical Museum will also offer free Historic Downtown Walking Tours. These tours will depart from the intersection of East Owen Avenue and South White Street hourly from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Spots are limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event. To reserve your spot, visit the Wake Forest Historical Museum tent, located in the Town Hall parking lot, 301 S. Brooks St. 

In addition, the Urban Forestry Board (UFB) will host the popular Arbor Day Tree Seedling Giveaway in the Town Hall parking lot, 301 S. Brooks St. As part of the seedling giveaway, UFB members, Town staff and volunteers will distribute over 3,000 ginkgo, persimmon, oak, and sweetgum seedlings to residents - while they last.

Volunteers will also be on hand to help residents decide which seedlings grow best in their respective yard conditions, demonstrate proper mulching and pruning techniques, and discuss simple, yet effective tree care practices. Volunteers will also share information about the Town’s Tree Steward Program.

Forest Fest will also feature live entertainment and educational programming under the tent in Centennial Plaza and a game area for people of all ages to compete and have fun.

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants. Plus, the following food and dessert trucks will be on site: Longleaf Swine BBQ, Buoy Bowls, Not Just A Fry Guy, Lumpy's Ice Cream, and Gabi's Grounds Coffee.

A special thanks to our 2022 Forest Fest sponsors: American Liberty Mortgage, Bartlett Tree Experts, Buff City Soap, Camp Gladiator, Kaleidoscope Realty - Heather Loftin, Renewal by Andersen, Shorty's Famous Hot Dogs, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest Federal, Warren Shackleford & Thomas, and Wild Birds Unlimited.

For complete information about Forest Fest, visit https://bit.ly/WFForestFest or contact Downtown Development Manager Jennifer Herbert at [email protected]. Please note: Vendor applications for this event are no longer being accepted.

Forest Fest is a Wake Forest Outdoors event. To view a complete listing of Town-sponsored springtime events and activities, visit http://bit.ly/WakeForestOutdoors. To receive email notifications concerning special events in Wake Forest, sign up for E-Notifier at https://bit.ly/WFEnotifier.