The Wake Forest community, young and old, of all colors and persuasions, will gather Thursday night, Jan. 21, to honor a man who worked, sacrificed and died for the cause of equality and justice, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 23rd annual Wake Forest celebration of Dr. King’s life and work will be held at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road, beginning at 6 p.m. with a light meal followed by the program at 7 p.m. The featured speaker will be Dr. Thomas Jackson, pastor emeritus at Wake Forest Baptist Church. Mayor Vivian Jones will welcome the audience. The theme for the evening is a quote from Dr. King: “Not everybody can be famous, but everyone can be great. . . . Greatness is determined by service.” Students in Wake Forest and Rolesville schools were asked to participate in three contests – performance of a song, poetry, composition

Step into the spotlight Tuesday, Jan. 26, for “Lights, Camera, Relay” as the American Cancer Society kicks off the Northern Wake Relay For Life 2016. The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. in The Mill Room at The Factory, 1839 South Main Street, Wake Forest. The kickoff is for Relay participants, cancer survivors, caregivers, volunteers and anyone who’d like to learn how to make a difference. The free event includes refreshments, door prizes and information about you can help the American Cancer Society’s find a cure. Relay For Life is a community-based event where teams walk in honor or memory of those who’ve battled cancer. This year’s Relay is May 20 at Wake Forest Baptist Church’s Stephenson Campus on Wake Union Church Road. For more details, go to www.RelayforLife.org/NorthernWakeNC, or contact Mary Beth Roberson at 919-730-9847 or email MartyCoward@nc.rr.com.

The first group to entertain Wake Forest in the Renaissance Centre’s new Rockin’ the Forest music series, Tres Chicas have been praised for their 2004 album Sweetwater by such critics as The Village Voice, who said it is “one of the notable, fetching, finished alt-country releases of the year.” Lynn Blakey, Caitlin Cary and Tonya Lamm make up the Raleigh-based group whose music combines sweet vocal harmonies with elements of country, folk and rock. They started singing together at a late-night singalong after friend Alejandro Escovedo’s show at a Raleigh bar. They played locally for fun for a few years, but then friend Chris Stamey, a producer, persuaded them to record for an album which became Sweetwater. They toured Europe in 2005, and their second album, Bloom, Red & the Ordinary Girl, was produced in 2006. Their show for Rockin’ the Forest will be Saturday, Jan. 30, at 8 a.m.

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host a Special Needs Valentine Party on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, 405 S. Brooks St. Featuring music, crafts, games, refreshments and prizes, this event will offer exceptional children and their families the opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a safe and accepting environment. The cost is $5 per child, but parents and caretakers are admitted free. Pre-registration is required no later than Monday, Feb. 1. To register, visit http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/. For more information about the Special Needs Valentine Party, contact Recreation Program Superintendent Monica Lileton at 919-435-9563 or mlileton@wakeforestnc.gov.  

Plans are well underway for downtown Wake Forest’s annual Mardi Gras Street Festival on Saturday, Feb. 6. This family-friendly celebration is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. Promising fun-filled activities for both children and adults, the Mardi Gras Street Festival will include face painters, strolling entertainers, live music, an inflatable playground, special contests and much more. Several participating downtown merchants will also offer exceptional discounts and activities throughout the day. One of the day’s highlights promises to be the Mardi Gras Walking Parade. The lineup will begin at 12:45 p.m. in town hall’s Centennial Plaza on Brooks Street, and the parade gets underway at 1 p.m. The parade route will extend from town hall, up East Owen Avenue, and north along South White Street before ending at the Depot Parking Lot at 110 South White Street. The walking parade is open to both children and