Friday Night on White in Wake Forest: dates, bands, parking

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the Town of Wake Forest’s Friday Night on White page, its parking page, weather policy and March 2026 announcement. This page is updated for each season at the same address.

Friday Night on White (FNOW) is Wake Forest’s free street concert: a party band on a stage on South White Street from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Friday of each month, April through September. The 2026 season ended Sept. 11. The town had not posted the 2027 lineup when we checked; it announced the 2026 bands by early March, and we will add 2027 here when it does.

Know before you go

• When: second Friday of the month, April to September, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Where: South White Street, downtown Wake Forest
• Cost: free; food trucks and beer for sale
• Parking: free seminary lots within a 15-minute walk; accessible parking at Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.
• Organizer: Town of Wake Forest, wakeforestnc.gov/meetings-events/friday-night-white; Downtown Development Director Jennifer Herbert, 919-435-9427

What it is

The town introduced FNOW in 2016, and 2026 was its 11th season. Local and regional party bands play classic rock and pop, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s hits, R&B dance, Top 40 and Motown. In March 2026 the series won the Wake Living Maggy Award for Best Local Event or Festival, voted by readers from several thousand ballots, the town said.

The 2026 lineup

Food and drink

Food trucks park in the event area at every concert; the town posts their menus ahead of each show. Beer goes on sale at 5 p.m. from White Street Brewing (tokens) and Norse Brewing (tickets), bought in advance at either brewery or at the event. Last call for outside beer is 8:50 p.m. Hope Lutheran gives out free mini water bottles at its tent on Owen Avenue while they last.

The event area sits inside the Wake Forest Social District, but beer bought on the street at FNOW must stay inside the event footprint. No outside alcohol or coolers are allowed in unless the drink is in an approved Social District cup.

Road closures

From the town’s FNOW page, on concert days:

• 1 p.m.: South White Street closes from Elm Avenue to East Owen Avenue for stage setup, and the East Owen Avenue and South Brooks Street intersection closes. East Owen stays reachable until 2 p.m. by way of East Roosevelt Avenue and South White.
• 2 p.m.: South White Street closes from East Owen to Wait Avenue for vendors and sound, including the Depot parking lot at 120 S. White St.
• About 11 to 11:30 p.m.: streets reopen once they are cleared and cleaned.

See our road construction and closures page for other work downtown.

Parking and getting there

• Free seminary lots: Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary opens several campus lots, all within a 15-minute walk: lots between South Main and South College streets, the lot behind Carson Hall, the lot on Wingate Street and lots at Stadium Drive and Rock Spring Road.
• Other free lots: Wake Forest Center for Active Aging (off South Brooks Street or East Holding Avenue) and Christ Church Wake Forest (off South Franklin Street and East Jones Avenue).
• Accessible parking: Town Hall lot, 301 S. Brooks St.
• Private lots: some lots that look public are not, such as the Renaissance Plaza lot. Read the signs.
• Rides: set Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., as the pickup and drop-off point for Go Wake Forest, Uber or Lyft; it is a short block from the stage.

What to know

• Chairs in the street, not on the sidewalk, and not before 4:30 p.m. Keep sidewalks clear.
• No coolers, outside alcohol or pets.
• Restrooms, all with accessible units, are in the food truck lot off South White Street, on Jones Avenue near South White, in the Fidelity Bank lot off East Owen Avenue (with a diaper changing table) and behind the stage across from The Cotton Company.
• Weather: the town works to hold every concert but may delay or cancel one if storms threaten. Updates go on the FNOW page, the town’s Facebook and Nextdoor pages and the Town of Wake Forest app.
• Supervise children, the town asks parents and caregivers.
• Festivities end at 9:30 p.m. on South White Street.

Prefer an outdoor concert in a park? See Six Sundays in Spring at Joyner Park, and our live music and nightlife and downtown Wake Forest guides.

Frequently asked questions

When is Friday Night on White in Wake Forest?

From 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Friday of each month from April through September. The 2026 season ran April 10 to Sept. 11; the town had not posted 2027 dates on Oct. 12, 2026.

Is Friday Night on White free?

Yes. The concerts are free. Food trucks sell food, and two downtown breweries sell beer inside the event area.

Where do I park for Friday Night on White?

The town points visitors to free parking in Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary lots, all within a 15-minute walk, plus the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging and Christ Church Wake Forest. Accessible parking is in the Town Hall lot, 301 S. Brooks St.

What streets close for Friday Night on White?

South White Street from Elm Avenue to East Owen Avenue closes at 1 p.m., and from East Owen to Wait Avenue at 2 p.m. Streets reopen around 11 to 11:30 p.m.

Can I bring a cooler or my dog to Friday Night on White?

No. The town asks people to leave coolers, outside alcohol and pets at home. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome in the street after 4:30 p.m.