The Wake Forest Community Christmas Dinner was organized in 1947 to welcome home the town’s returning World War II veterans. Created by the Wake Forest Garden Club and the Civic Club, the original dinner was held in the Community House on Owen Avenue. Over the decades, this tradition has continually ranked among the town’s best holiday celebrations.
Always held on the first Monday in December, this year’s Community Christmas Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 3, at the Forks Cafeteria at 339 South Brooks Street.
After the Christmas invocation, Dave Greenwell and his kitchen staff will serve a menu of fried chicken, roast beef, baked apples, potatoes au gratin, carrots, broccoli casserole, dinner rolls, and assorted desserts.
There will be a brief musical program by Hallie Arrington Hearn (reprising her role as entertainer 50 years after first singing at the dinner as a child in 1968), plaques will be presented to the recipients of the Citizen of the Year, Organization of the Year, and Peggy Allen Lifetime Achievement awards. The evening will conclude with Christmas carols and a short group sing-along.
Everyone is welcome at this special celebration! Tickets priced at $15 each are available at the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Forest Historical Museum. They’ll remain on sale through the last week of November. Please make checks out to the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation and put Community Christmas Dinner in the memo line.
We hope to see you there!
