Free in Wake Forest: street concerts on White Street, Six Sundays at Joyner Park, a free history museum, 20 miles of greenways, a sprayground and disc golf.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Everything here was free when we checked, from the Town of Wake Forest’s events and parks pages and each organizer’s own site. Where a date is from 2026, we say so.
Wake Forest’s best free outings are its concerts: Friday Night on White on South White Street, the second Friday of each month from April to September, and Six Sundays in Spring at Joyner Park in April and May. Add more than 20 miles of greenways, a free history museum and free disc golf.
Who to call
- Town events: 919-435-9430
- Parks and recreation: 919-435-9560
- Wake Forest Historical Museum: 919-556-2911
Free concerts
| Series | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Night on White | Second Friday, April to September, 6 to 9 p.m. | South White Street downtown |
| Six Sundays in Spring | Sundays, late April to end of May, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (April 26 to May 31 in 2026) | E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road |
Friday Night on White brings party bands playing classic rock, ’80s and ’90s hits, R&B and Motown; it was named best local event or festival in the 2026 Maggy Awards, the town says. Six Sundays, presented by ARTS Wake Forest, runs rain or shine; bring a blanket and a picnic, but no alcohol or unleashed pets at Joyner Park.
Free parks and trails
- More than 20 miles of greenways, including the Smith Creek Greenway’s link to the 33-mile Neuse River Greenway Trail. See our walking and biking trails guide.
- E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road: 117 acres, 3 miles of paved loops, restored farm buildings and a pecan grove.
- Disc golf: 18 holes on the seminary campus; hole 1 is behind Carson Hall, 101 N. Wingate St. Open 4 p.m. to dusk weekdays and dawn to dusk weekends, per the town’s disc golf page.
- Flaherty Dog Park, 1100 N. White St.: free off-leash park; rules on our dog-friendly guide.
- Fishing at the Flaherty Park ponds and the Wake Forest Reservoir (license needed).
Free history
- Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St.: free, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, with guided tours of the Calvin Jones House at 2 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Its free monthly walking tours cover a different part of town each time; the museum’s site lists the next date.
- Virtual tours: the town’s downtown historic district tour and public art tour work on your phone as you walk. Look for the murals near Unwined on White and The Cotton Company.
- Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies: 11 a.m. on the first Monday of each month, April to October, in Centennial Plaza at Town Hall.
Free for kids
- Playgrounds: the inclusive playground at Holding Park and the accessible, police-themed one at Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, 416 N. Taylor St.
- Sprayground at Wiggins Park in summer.
- Library story times at the Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E. Holding Ave.
- Calls from Santa in December and the Letters for Santa mailbox downtown.
More on our kids’ activities guide.
Free festivals through the year
| Season | Event |
|---|---|
| Spring | Easter Eggstravaganza at Joyner Park; StoryWalk in April |
| May | Meet in the Street arts festival downtown |
| September | Good Neighbor Day at Joyner Park (Sept. 19 in 2026) |
| October | Diwali Festival and the Halloween Boo Bash (Oct. 17 this year) |
| December | Lighting of Wake Forest (Dec. 4), Holiday Open House and the Joyner Park light walk |
Details are on our Halloween, holiday lights and things to do this month pages.
Window shopping and the market
The Wake Forest Farmers Market sets up every Saturday on South Taylor Street, and downtown’s shops, galleries and the social district make a free afternoon stroll; see our downtown Wake Forest guide.
Related: date night, brunch and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
What free concerts are there in Wake Forest?
Friday Night on White runs 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Friday of each month from April to September downtown, and Six Sundays in Spring runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays from late April through May at Joyner Park. Both are free.
Is the Wake Forest Historical Museum free?
Yes. The museum at 414 N. Main St. is free and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Its historic district walking tours are free too.
Is there free disc golf in Wake Forest?
Yes. An 18-hole course on the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary campus, built with the town, is free. Hole 1 is behind Carson Hall, 101 N. Wingate St.
What free things can kids do in Wake Forest?
Playgrounds at Holding Park and Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, the Wiggins Park sprayground in summer, the Joyner Park TRACK Trail, library story times and town events like the Halloween Boo Bash and Easter Eggstravaganza.
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