Approved Special Events
APRIL 2025
Wake Forest Historic Half
Saturday, April 26, 2025: 7:30-11:00 am
“Share the Road” event with Associated Road & Greenway Impacts: 5:30 am – 12:00 pm; refer to event website for more information.
This is a Community Event.
Contact Brent Dorenkamp
Forest Fest
Saturday, April 26, 2025: 10:00 - 2:00 pm
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: East Owen Avenue and South Brooks Street from Elm Avenue to just beyond Owen Avenue will be closed from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Refer to event website for more information.
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Libby Lightner-Kemp
May 2025
Meet In The Street
Saturday, May 5, 2025: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 6:00 am – 6:00 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: Julie Kruse-John
June 2025
Cars & Carnivores Street Festival
Saturday, June 7, 2025: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Associated Road Closures/Impacts: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm; East Owen Avenue (Festival Street) and Brooks Street between Elm Avenue and Owen Avenue Extension
This is a Community Event.
Contact: Brad Walker
july 2025
July 4th 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
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
DECEMBER 2025
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.