Summer in Wake Forest 2027: camps, pool opening and splash pads

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. The 2027 summer schedules are not out yet, so prices and dates below are from 2026 and say so. Facts come from the Town of Wake Forest’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

Summer in Wake Forest starts when the Holding Park Aquatic Center opens on Memorial Day weekend: in 2026 that was Saturday, May 23, with the pool open through Labor Day. The free sprayground at Joey McCrea Wiggins Park and the town’s camps fill in the rest of the season.

Who to call

• Pool, swim lessons and camps: Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, 919-435-9560
• Register: RecDesk, or the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road
• Flaherty Park Community Center: 919-554-6726

Holding Park Aquatic Center

The town pool at 133 W. Owen Ave. has a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, two water slides with a plunge pool (riders must be 44 inches tall), a children’s pool with water play and a concession stand, according to its town page.

2026 daily admission:

• Book ahead. Open swim runs in three-hour blocks with a half-hour break between them, up to 200 swimmers a block. Sessions open for booking on RecDesk 14 days ahead; walk-ins only if there is room.
• Cards only: debit or credit, no cash for admission.
• Punch Pass: 20 swims for $60 (residents) or $100 (nonresidents), bought online and picked up at the Joyner Park Community Center.
• Rules: children 12 and under need a parent or guardian; no outside food, coolers, glass, pets or smoking; only Coast Guard-approved flotation for young children, the pool rules say.
• The pool cannot be rented.

Swim lessons

In 2026 the town posted the swim lesson schedule by April 20 and opened registration May 1, online only, according to its swim lessons page:

• Groups of two to four with one instructor, Monday to Thursday for one week, 45 minutes a day.
• Levels: preschool (3 to 5), beginner (6 to 8), youth (9 to 12), teen (13 to 17) and adult.
• $40 for town residents, $80 for nonresidents.
• One-on-one lessons for children with disabilities: $90, registration from May 18 in 2026.
• No internet? Use the kiosks in the Town Hall lobby, 301 S. Brooks St., weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Splash pad and playgrounds

Joey McCrea Wiggins Park sprayground, 416 N. Taylor St. (formerly Taylor Street Park). Free. Press the button on the orange pole for four-minute cycles of jets, mists, a water arch and a bucket trio. In season it is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday; it closed for 2026 on Sept. 20, according to the town’s park page and sprayground page. The park’s police-themed accessible playground is open daily from dawn to dusk.

The Holding Park Inclusive Playground is in the same park as the pool, so a swim and a play fit in one trip. More playgrounds are on our kids’ activities guide and parks and trails guide.

Summer camps

The town lists its summer camps in the March to August edition of RecConnect, the parks department’s program guide; the 2026 edition is online in the RecConnect archive. From the town’s registration rules:

• Register and pay in full on RecDesk, or in person at the Joyner Park, Flaherty Park or Alston-Massenburg community centers.
• Bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate to register for any summer camp.
• Families outside town limits may pay a nonresident fee.
• Refunds need a written request at least 10 business days before the start date.

Free summer evenings

Summer weekends in town also mean Friday Night on White concerts downtown and the Fourth of July fireworks. See free things to do and live music and nightlife.

Related: Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Labor Day.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Wake Forest pool open?

The Holding Park Aquatic Center, 133 W. Owen Ave., opens Memorial Day weekend and closes after Labor Day. In 2026 it opened Saturday, May 23. The 2027 date had not been announced.

How much is the Wake Forest pool?

In 2026, daily admission for Wake Forest residents was $1 for ages 2 and under, $4 for ages 3-12, $5 for ages 13-59 and $4 for 60 and over. Nonresidents paid $2, $6, $7 and $6. Cards only, no cash.

Do I need to book a swim session at Holding Park?

Yes, ideally. Open swim runs in three-hour blocks capped at 200 people. Registration opens 14 days ahead on RecDesk; walk-ins are allowed only if space permits.

Where is the splash pad in Wake Forest?

The sprayground at Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, 416 N. Taylor St., is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday in season. It is free and closed for 2026 on Sept. 20.

How much are swim lessons in Wake Forest?

In 2026, group lessons cost $40 for town residents and $80 for nonresidents, with one-on-one lessons for children with disabilities at $90. Registration opened May 1.