A lively and educational celebration of gospel music connecting all cultures, ages and backgrounds will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street. The Shades of Gospel concert will highlight a range of traditional, southern and contemporary gospel music with featured performances by Macedonia New Life Choir, the New Bethel Baptist Praise Team, the Trinity Quartet, and Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award nominated artist Tim Bowman, Jr. Tickets are $15 plus tax and may be purchased online at www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/shades-gospel-concert<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/shades-gospel-concert> or at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 Brooks Street. The Trinity Quartet has opened the Lexington BBQ Festival with “God Bless America” for the last seven years. The group also won the Male Quartet division in the annual Benson State Singing Convention in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Known for such hits as “Wake Up Call,” “I Have Tomorrow,” “Listen With Your

The North Carolina Symphony will present a free Music Discovery & Instrument Zoo on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, 405 Brooks Street. Geared for preschool and elementary age children and their families, this hands-on musical activity will feature NC Symphony musician Rachel Niketopoulos reading a children’s book followed by an interactive demonstration of orchestra instruments. Attendees will learn how the horn instruments of the orchestra make their sounds and hear examples of classical and popular music composed for horns. Afterwards, audience members will have the opportunity to try their favorite instrument in the instrument zoo. This Music Discovery program is sponsored by PNC’s Grow Up Great initiative, promoting literacy and arts education for preschoolers and their families. For more information, visit www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/music-discovery-instrument-zoo<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/music-discovery-instrument-zoo> or contact Renaissance Centre Specialist Debra Horton at 919-435-9566 or dhorton@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:dhorton@wakeforestnc.gov>.

The family-friendly 5K Gobbler’s Run through Wake Forest will start off at 8 a.m. from the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club on South Wingate Street on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. The 3.1-mile loop is an easy stroll through downtown and historic Wake Forest. Push your kids or bring your dog – strollers and pets are welcome. You’ll get a race T-shirt and be able to eat more turkey without the guilt! The course is mostly flat and there will be a water stop at the half-way point on North Main Street. The Jim Allen Group is presenting this year’s race – and along with the families there are serious racers who will be competing. You can find all the details if you go to http://gobblersrun.itsyourrace.com/event. There is still the early bird registration fee, $20, in effect for those 16 and older until Oct. 31. Registration from Nov. 1 to

Forest Moon Theater will present “The Memory of Water” Friday through Sunday, Nov. 9-11 and 16-18, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405  Brooks Street. Showtime on Friday and Saturday is 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s showtime is 3 p.m. The death of their mother reunites sisters in England who at first could seem no more different from one another. Conflicting memories of the same events from their past highlight what separates them. On the eve of the funeral, in the bedroom haunted by their mother’s ghost, confrontations amidst the laughter stir the waters and bring secrets to the surface. This play is produced by special arrangements with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Advance tickets are $15 plus tax for adults and $13 plus tax for students and seniors. These prices reflect a savings of $3 per adult and student/senior on “day of” admission tickets. Please note: Parental guidance recommended. Contains some

You still have time to apply to participate in the 2018 Wake Forest Christmas Parade. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Oct. 29 and are available online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-christmas-parade.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-christmas-parade.aspx> and at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Interested participants may submit their application online or by mail to Wake Forest Christmas Parade, c/o Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., 301 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest, NC 27587. Entries postmarked by Monday, Oct. 29, will be considered for inclusion based on the number of entries needed for each category. Accepted entrants will be notified via email no later than Monday, Nov. 5. Please note: A limited number of car and motorcycle group entries are accepted each year, with entries being considered in the order in which they are submitted. The allotted number of car and motorcycle group entries has been filled, so no additional applications in those categories will be