Celebrate Black History Month
Black History Month Walking Tours
Fridays in February | 1 pm
The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Historical Museum are partnering to offer free Black History Month Walking Tours of the Northeast Community every Friday in February at 1 p.m.
Pre-registration is required. Space is limited to the first 15 participants to sign up for each tour.
Led by staff from Historic Preservation Planning and the Wake Forest Historical Museum, the tours will include Olive Branch Baptist Church, Alston-Massenburg Center, the newly restored Ailey Young House, the African American Cemetery, and more. Along the way, each group will discuss the developmental and architectural history of the area, along with the significant men and women who shaped the Northeast Community. Tours are outside only and will not include the inside of individual homes or buildings.
Each tour is approximately 90 minutes and will begin at Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St., proceed west along East Juniper Avenue, south on North White Street, east on East Spring Street, and north along North Taylor Street back to Taylor Street Park.
For complete details, visit our website or contact Michelle Michael at 919-435-9516.
Empowered, Brilliant, and Brave: Great Women of Black History
Saturday, Feb 8 | 11 am
Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.
Bright Star Touring Theatre presents Empowered, Brilliant, and Brave: Great Women of Black History at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m.
This powerful production will showcase several of Black History’s most inspiring women.
Admission is free, but seating is first come, first serve, so plan to arrive early.
For more information, email Debra Horton.
Black History Expo
Saturday, Feb. 15 | Noon-4 pm
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will partner with Wake Forest native Ronald “Skip” Parker to host a “Black History Expo” in February at the Alston-Massenburg Center (AMC), 416 N. Taylor St.
Free and open to the public, the expo will feature on display many of Parker’s unique and authentic antiques and collectibles from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, including an 1842 wooden washboard, a vintage 1954 DeLaval stainless steel milk can, antique dolls depicting Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, Ella Fitzgerald, Katherine Johnson, and Maya Angelou, and much more.
For more information, contact AMC Supervisor James Triplette at 919-554-6189.
Black History Month Honor Roll
Nominations accepted through Saturday, Feb 15
The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) is celebrating Black History Month by offering town residents the chance to recognize local African Americans who have made a difference enhancing and improving the quality of life in their community, family, church, business, organizations or other groups.
From now through Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, the HRC is accepting nominations for Wake Forest residents to be recognized for their contributions to the community.
Wake Forest residents (youth and adults), former residents, and business and community stakeholders that identify as African American are eligible. Nominees should demonstrate leadership and integrity and be respected by their peers.
Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo
Saturday, Feb 22 | 1-4 pm
Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
The Wake Forest Human Relations Council will host the 2025 Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 1-4 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
Free to the public, the event will bring enterprising professionals together from the Wake Forest community to network and showcase their products and services.
Proclamations
In December 2020, Mayor Vivian Jones visited the homes of Dianne Laws, Evelyn Jones and Roger Shackleford where she read proclamations recognizing each one for their contributions to our community. Staff video recorded these presentations which were shown during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting on January 19, 2021.