Proving Wake Forest still is a small town, Santa and Mrs. Claus make phone calls to local children early every December. Your child or children if they are between 3 and 7 can receive a call. The callers’ names are secret. They will meet this year Thursday, Dec. 10, and place the calls between 6 and 8 a.m. Every child should be preparing or in bed at 8. To arrange for a call, you can get a registration form from the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department in Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 Brooks Street, or download a registration form from the town website, www.wakeforestnc.gov, after Dec. 1. The completed forms must be returned to the parks and recreation office by 5 p.m. Dec. 10. There is no charge, but all calls must be local. For more information, call 919-435-9560 or email Monica Lileton, mlileton@wakeforestnc.gov.  

The annual Youngsville Kiwanis Turkey Shoot will be held every Saturday through Dec. 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Haunted Forest at Panic Point, 2808 Cedar Creek Road just outside Youngsville. Ammunition is provided; $5 a shot or $20 for five shots. The evening includes prizes, light shot and kids’ airsoft shot. For more information, email David Jerose, djerose@aol.com.

Representatives from the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation attended the Walter E. Cole American Legion Post 187 November 2015 monthly meeting to present an “Excellence in Patriotism” certificate to the members of the post for substantially contributing both time and money toward the success of the Foundation’s efforts over the past six years to identify and pay respects to wounded service members from all wars. The certificate was presented by Rich Heroux, a foundation board member, and Joe Delois, the senior vice commander, received the certificate on behalf of the membership. If you know of someone who has received a Purple Heart, please go to the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation website or call (919) 494-2707 to report the individual so that the person can be contacted for Purple Heart Dinner participation in the near future.

Area residents are invited to experience the wonder and magic of the holiday season at the annual “Lighting of Wake Forest” on Friday, Dec. 4. Sponsored by Traditions at Heritage and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, the festivities get underway at 6 p.m. in Centennial Plaza, 301 Brooks Street, the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall. This year’s ceremony will feature the lighting of the town’s 30-feet-tall Christmas tree by Mayor Vivian Jones, followed by the exciting arrival of Santa Claus aboard a Wake Forest fire truck. The event will also include performances by local choirs and free hot cocoa, along with a children’s craft activity and complimentary “Pictures with Santa” in the town hall lobby. Guests planning to have a photo taken with Santa Claus must pick up a time ticket in the town hall lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m. Designed to reduce wait times, each ticket will

The Free Spirit Ensemble of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra will give Wake Forest a Christmas gift, a free performance of Lanette Lind’s newest work for children, “Santa’s Gift to the Monsters.” It is a family holiday concert with favorite stories and music along with some treats. This story addresses the plights of childhood monsters and the questions of what Santa would give the monsters at Christmas. It will take place at the Alston-Massenburg Center on North Taylor Street beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6.