Things to do in Wake Forest
Things to do in Wake Forest, newest first: events, festivals, parks and family days out, with dates, times and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Things to do in Wake Forest this weekend, Oct. 23 to 25
This weekend in Wake Forest: ghost walks Friday and Saturday, a free trunk-or-treat Sunday, a drug take-back Saturday and early voting all weekend.
Plan your weekend
Things to do
Things to do in Wake Forest this month: October 2026
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.
Greenways
Parks and trails in Wake Forest
Wake Forest has 20-plus miles of greenways, 117-acre Joyner Park, Flaherty Park's dog park and courts, and a reservoir trail. Parks open dawn to dusk.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Wake Forest 2027: car shows, events and brunch
Father's Day is June 20, 2027. Cars and Carnivores brings 100+ show cars and a steak cook-off downtown June 5; plus concerts and ideas for dads.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Wake Forest 2027: events, closures and trash pickup
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 6, 2027. Wake Forest's trash runs a day late all week, Town Hall closes, and the town pool ends its season.
Fall
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches near Wake Forest 2026
Hill Ridge Farms' pumpkin festival runs Wednesday to Sunday through Nov. 1, then Nov. 4-6 until 2 p.m. Rolesville's free Fall FunFest is Saturday, Nov. 14.
Halloween
Halloween events in Wake Forest 2026
Halloween in Wake Forest 2026: the last ghost walks Oct. 29 and 30, ghost stories at the Renaissance Centre Oct. 30 and trick-or-treating Saturday, Oct. 31.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Wake Forest 2026: Gobbler's Run and trash pickup
Gobbler's Run 5K starts at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26. Town Hall closes Nov. 26-27, and Thursday and Friday trash routes slide a day.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Wake Forest: parks, patios, trails and leash rules
Flaherty Dog Park is Wake Forest's free off-leash park, open dawn to dusk. Everywhere else, Wake County's leash law applies, with a $100 fine.
Free
Free things to do in Wake Forest: concerts, parks, museum and more
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.
Spirits of Wake Forest
Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walk: dates, tickets and tips
Two nights left: Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walks run Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 and 8 p.m. downtown. Tickets are $20, in advance.
Friday Night on White
Friday Night on White in Wake Forest: dates, bands, parking
Friday Night on White is Wake Forest's free downtown concert series, 6 to 9 p.m. the second Friday of each month, April to September.
Six Sundays in Spring
Six Sundays in Spring at Joyner Park: dates, bands and tips
Six Sundays in Spring is a free concert series at Joyner Park in Wake Forest, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. six Sundays from late April through May.
Meet in the Street
Meet in the Street in Wake Forest: festival dates and tips
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.
Good Neighbor Day
Good Neighbor Day in Wake Forest: date, activities and tips
Good Neighbor Day is Wake Forest's free September festival at Joyner Park, held since 2006. 2026 was Sept. 19; 2027 dates are not out yet.
