Meet in the Street, Wake Forest's free arts, music and food festival, fills downtown each May. 2026 was May 2; 2027 dates are not out yet.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce’s Meet in the Street 2026 event page and the Town of Wake Forest’s Meet in the Street listing (archived copy). This page is updated for each year’s festival at the same address.

Meet in the Street is Wake Forest’s long-running spring street festival: a free day of arts and crafts, music and food that fills downtown on a Saturday in early May. The 2026 festival, the 44th, was Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The chamber had not posted the 2027 date when we checked; we will add it here when it does.

Know before you go

  • When: a Saturday in early May; 2026 was May 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Where: downtown Wake Forest, White Street and Owen Avenue
  • Cost: free admission
  • Organizer: Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, 350 S. White St., 919-556-1519, festival page

What it is

The town calls Meet in the Street a “premier arts & crafts, music and food festival,” and 2026 was its 44th year. The chamber coordinates it. The 2026 festival had:

  • More than 100 artisan booths selling handmade goods, plus an Artisan Village of one-of-a-kind handmade artwork, new in 2026.
  • Dozens of food trucks, grouped in a Foodie Fairway and a Dessert Court.
  • Live music through the day on two stages.
  • A Children’s Village with activities for kids of all ages.
  • Small Business Alley for local shops and Young Entrepreneurs showing ideas from local young people.
  • Engine Alley, new in 2026, where children can touch a truck and look over unusual vehicles.
  • A beer garden, also new in 2026.

Parking and getting there

The chamber and town pages for the 2026 festival did not publish a parking or road closure map. For the town’s other big downtown events, it sends visitors to free lots at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging and Christ Church Wake Forest, keeps accessible parking in the Town Hall lot at 301 S. Brooks St., and warns that some lots that look public, such as the Renaissance Plaza lot, are private, according to its downtown event parking page. Expect downtown streets around the festival to be busy all day, and allow time to walk in.

What to know

  • Free to get in; bring cash or cards for vendors, food trucks and the beer garden.
  • Questions about booths, sponsorships or the schedule go to the chamber, 919-556-1519.
  • More in May: the town’s Friday Night on White concerts on the second Friday of May and Six Sundays in Spring at Joyner Park also run in May.

For shops and restaurants to visit on festival day, see our downtown Wake Forest guide and things to do.

Frequently asked questions

When is Meet in the Street in Wake Forest?

Meet in the Street is held on a Saturday in early May. The 2026 festival, the 44th, was Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The chamber had not posted 2027 dates on Oct. 12, 2026.

How much does Meet in the Street cost?

Admission is free. Food, drinks and the handmade goods at the booths are for sale.

Where is Meet in the Street?

In downtown Wake Forest, on White Street and Owen Avenue around the chamber office at 350 S. White St.

Who runs Meet in the Street?

The Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce coordinates the festival. Its office is at 350 S. White St., 919-556-1519.

What is at Meet in the Street?

More than 100 artisan booths with handmade goods, dozens of food trucks, live music on two stages and a children’s village. In 2026 the chamber added an Artisan Village, an Engine Alley of vehicles to touch and a beer garden.