The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will offer a free outdoor fitness series five nights a week in May at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Free and open to area residents of all ages, May Month of Fitness will consist of the following weekly classes: All classes are free and require no registration. Each will be offered on its respective night from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park Amphitheater. During the Women’s Self Defense classes, instructors from Quest Martial Arts will teach participating women a variety of techniques to avoid danger and defend themselves if necessary. Sessions will focus on practical and instinctive methods to get you out of harm’s way. Participants are encouraged to bring water. Cynergy Fit is an Outdoor Bootcamp Community in Wake Forest. Personal Trainer Cyndie Daniel will motivate, challenge and train participants to be stronger, faster, and better than the day

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board will host a family-friendly 5K/3K walk/run as part of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 1, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Check-in on the day of the event starts at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 8 a.m. Online registration is available at https://bit.ly/WFNationalTrailsDay. The entry fee for the 5K is $25 before March 31; $30 from April 1-May 14; $35 from May 15-30; and $40 the day before and day of the race. The entry fee for the 3K is $20 before March 31; $25 from April 1-May 14; $30 May 15-30; and $35 the day before and day of the race. Please note: Registrations will be accepted on the day of the event. Everyone who registers before May 15 will receive a race T-shirt. The National Trails Day 5K/3K is a timed walk/run for children and adults.

The Mes Papillons Foundation is sponsoring its annual gala, “Butterflies in Bloom,” on Saturday, April 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 Brooks Street, Wake Forest. Join us for a wonderful night of dinner, dancing, and a silent auction! We will enjoy the soulful and talented Mack Band guaranteed to make you dance. To purchase tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/7d1dde9d-6fd2-42b4-b5a0-02b0370a6c40 Tickets are $60 for adults, $25 for children. ###

The 2024 Wake Forest Fire Department Fish Fry is Friday, April 19, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – or until all the fish plates are sold – at Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave. Plates are $10 each and will include generous portions of fried flounder, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Cash, check, and credit card accepted. Fish fry proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest Firefighters Foundation. No preorders will be accepted, but both eat in and drive thru take-out options will be available.  Desserts will be sold separately for guests dining inside. Delivery service is available for orders of 15 plates or more. A special part of this year’s Fish Fry will be a food drive to benefit the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Throughout the day, the WFFD will collect non-perishable food items to help feed hungry people in our community. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/WFFDFishFry or contact Fire Logistics Specialist David Davis at 919-761-3810

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and Page 158 Books are partnering to offer a free program throughout April that encourages families to read while enjoying the greenways at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. StoryWalk is an innovative and interactive way for readers of all ages to enjoy a story and the outdoors at the same time. It’s also an effective way for young readers to practice active reading skills. Throughout April, pages from the children’s picture book, “Billy Bully Frog Learns to Love,” by Lizzie McInerney, will be displayed on posts along the Joyner Park trails. As you stroll along the path, you will be directed to the next page in the story. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. In addition