Late October in Wake Forest: the last ghost walks Oct. 29-30, early voting to Oct. 31, Adam Pascal Nov. 14, the Holiday Kick-Off Nov. 21 and lights Dec. 4-5.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. Rebuilt on the first of each month. Every listing links to the organizer; times and prices are as the organizer publishes them.

The last week of October in Wake Forest is ghost walks, a trunk-or-treat and the end of early voting; November brings a Broadway concert, the holiday art show and the downtown Holiday Kick-Off. The town’s events calendar is on its meetings and events page, and the Renaissance Centre box office is at 919-435-9458. For the next three days, see things to do this weekend; for shows and classes, arts and exhibitions this month.

Who to call

  • Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources: Alston-Massenburg Center 919-554-6189, Flaherty Park Community Center 919-554-6726
  • Wake Forest Renaissance Centre box office: 919-435-9458, rcboxoffice@wakeforestnc.gov
  • Wake County Board of Elections: 919-404-4040

Halloween

  • Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walks, two nights left: Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, with tours at 6:30 and 8 p.m. from outside Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Tickets are $20, sold in advance until sold out, according to the town’s ghost walk page. Recommended for ages 8 and up; no pets.
  • Covenant Hope Church Harvest Festival, 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4038 Graham Sherron Road. Free, with food and family activities; the trunk-or-treat starts at 6 p.m., the church says.
  • Of Blood and Bone, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Storyteller Donna Washington tells scary tales for adults and brave teens, with dessert included. Reserved tables start at $25, according to the Renaissance Centre.
  • Trick-or-treating is on Halloween itself, Saturday, Oct. 31. Police recommend 6 to 8 p.m. More in our trick-or-treat hours guide and Halloween events.

The downtown Halloween Boo Bash was Oct. 17.

Fall outings

  • Hill Ridge Farms pumpkin festival, Wednesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 703 Tarboro Road in Youngsville, through Sunday, Nov. 1, then 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 4-6, the last days on the dated schedule on the farm’s home page. More in our fall festivals and pumpkin patches roundup.
  • Rolesville Fall FunFest, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, on Redford Place Drive and in Redford Place Park, about four miles southeast. Inflatables, yard games, music and a fire truck for photos; the Town of Rolesville will post its 2026 detour map before the day.
  • For parks, greenways and Falls Lake, see parks and trails.

Arts and shows

  • Adam Pascal: Broadway Unplugged, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Renaissance Centre. The original Roger in “Rent” sings from his career in an acoustic set. Tickets start at $30, according to the Renaissance Centre.
  • Holiday Invitational art exhibit, Nov. 9 to Jan. 4 in the Renaissance Centre Arts Annex, with a free opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, according to the Renaissance Centre exhibits page.
  • Classes, workshops and the current Wake Forest Pride exhibit are on our arts and exhibitions page.

Holiday season starts

  • Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, downtown. Free, with family activities and food vendors, launching the town’s holiday donation drive. East Owen Avenue and South White Street from Elm Avenue to Jones Avenue close from 9 a.m. and should reopen by 6 p.m., according to the town’s event page. Free parking at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging and the seminary lots.
  • Gobbler’s Run 5K, 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, 325 S. Wingate St. Register through ITS YOUR RACE. Closures and trash changes are on our Thanksgiving page.
  • Lighting of Wake Forest, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in Centennial Plaza at Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., with the tree lit at about 6:15 p.m. and Santa’s arrival, the town says. The 2026 lineup is still to come. More on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
  • Evening Holiday Walk, 6 to 9 p.m. nightly from Saturday, Dec. 5, to Dec. 31, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Free and open to everyone, the town says. More on our holiday lights page.
  • Hill Ridge Farms Festival of Lights in Youngsville opens Thanksgiving night, Nov. 26, from 5 to 10 p.m., the farm’s home page says.

Markets and good causes

  • Wake Forest Farmers Market, every Saturday on South Taylor Street behind Town Hall: 8 a.m. to noon through October, 9 a.m. to noon from November. SNAP is accepted, according to the town’s market page.
  • Warm Your Hearts with Coats Drive, through Saturday, Oct. 31. Drop new or clean used coats at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.; Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.; or Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road, during open hours (closed Sundays). Children and teens can pick up a coat from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Alston-Massenburg Center, the town says.

Civic dates

  • Early voting runs through Saturday, Oct. 31, at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road, and 17 other Wake County sites: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Go Wake Forest gives fare-free rides to the Joyner Park site, the town says. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. See our voting guide.
  • Downtown Traffic Study open house, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Town Hall lobby. Drop in any time. The online survey closes Friday, Nov. 6, the town says.

What this means for you

  • Ghost walks end Oct. 30; buy tickets online before you go.
  • Vote early at Joyner Park through Oct. 31 to skip Election Day lines.
  • Park at the free lots for the Holiday Kick-Off on Nov. 21; two downtown streets close.

Frequently asked questions

What is on in Wake Forest for Halloween 2026?

The last Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walks run Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, Covenant Hope Church holds a free trunk-or-treat at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, and trick-or-treating is Saturday, Oct. 31, with police recommending 6 to 8 p.m.

When is the Wake Forest Christmas tree lighting in 2026?

The Lighting of Wake Forest is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in Centennial Plaza at Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. The town says the tree is usually lit at about 6:15 p.m.

What free events are in Wake Forest in November 2026?

The Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off downtown, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, the Holiday Invitational art reception Nov. 13 and Rolesville’s Fall FunFest Nov. 14 are free.

Is the Wake Forest Farmers Market open in November?

Yes. It runs every Saturday on South Taylor Street behind Town Hall, 8 a.m. to noon through October and 9 a.m. to noon from November through March.