You’re invited to join Mayor Vivian Jones for the 2025 State of the Town Address & Dinner on Monday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. Presented by the Wake Forest Rotary Club, the event will take place at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. During her remarks, Mayor Jones will reflect on the successes and challenges of the Wake Forest community over the past year. She will also outline the goals the Town will strive towards in 2025. Advance tickets are $15 per person and include a catered meal and dinner music by local performing artist Ronald Williams. Tickets can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card at https://bit.ly/WFStateofTown. Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office with cash, check, or credit card. A limited number of tickets are available, so the event is expected to sell out. Dress for

Forest Fest returns to downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc. (WFD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to champion the economic health, growth, and vitality of downtown Wake Forest, Forest Fest is a family friendly event celebrating nature and outdoors in the heart of Wake Forest. WFD is now accepting applications from vendors and nonprofit organizations that wish to participate in this year’s Forest Fest. The online application is available at visit https://bit.ly/WFForestFest. Application and payment are due no later than Sunday, Feb. 9.  PLEASE NOTE: Food trucks have already been secured for this event, and no additional food vendors are needed. As interest in Forest Fest continues to grow, WFD is committed to securing vendors and nonprofits whose missions and efforts align with the purpose and spirit of the event. As a result, participating vendors and nonprofit organizations

The Town of Wake Forest is making it easier for community members to properly dispose of their tattered or worn American flags thanks to the efforts of a local Boy Scout. Andrew Horner, 14, and the scouts of Troop 500 recently constructed a flag retirement drop box (see attached photo) as part of Horner’s Eagle Scout Service Project. Made of wooden and aluminum panels, the red, white, and blue colored drop box is in the visitor parking lot of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., next to the utility payment drop box. A Wake Forest High School student, Horner says the flag drop-off box is an appropriate and respectful way to dispose of worn, tattered, or unserviceable American flags. “I decided on this project after seeing someone throw away a worn American flag,” said Horner. “I realized that many people don’t know the proper way to retire a flag, so I

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., is inviting artists of all ages to submit up to three works of art for its March exhibition entitled: “Land That I Love – A Tribute to Western NC.” Artists are encouraged to consider the title of the exhibition as inspiration for their submission. Designed to give visual artists an opportunity to display and sell their work in a gallery setting, the March exhibit will include 120 linear feet of hanging space and a medium-sized display cabinet to showcase 3D works. To learn more and/or apply, visit www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events/2025-art-exhibits. The submission deadline is Monday, Feb. 10. Selected works of art will be displayed in the Renaissance Centre Arts Annex from Thursday, March 6, through Friday, April 4. The Renaissance Centre will honor the artists and their works during a special reception on Friday, March 14, from 6-8 p.m. in the Renaissance Centre Arts

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is hosting a series of public meetings to solicit input from residents concerning the future of Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St. The first three meetings occurred on November 21, December 7, and December 10.  The PRCR Department will offer additional public input sessions at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m.  Each session will include a brief presentation, followed by an open discussion where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share suggestions. Town staff will be on hand to answer questions and gather public input. Discussions will focus on PRCR’s efforts to apply for the Accessible Parks (AP) Grant Program. The Accessible Parks Grant Program provides $3.7 million in matching grants for parks and recreation for the construction of special facilities