The Town of Wake Forest kicks off the holiday season this weekend with a sleigh load of yuletide events that begins with Friday’s Lighting of Wake Forest, continues with Saturday’s Downtown Holiday Open House and Wake Forest Christmas Historic Home Tour, and concludes with Sunday’s Wake Forest Children’s Choir Holiday Concert.
Area residents are invited to experience the sights and sounds of the Christmas season Friday, Dec. 2, during the annual Lighting of Wake Forest. Sponsored by Traditions at Heritage and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., this popular event will take place in Centennial Plaza on Brooks Street in front of the Wake Forest Town Hall.
The event begins at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the town’s 30-foot-tall Christmas tree by Mayor Vivian Jones, followed by Santa’s exciting arrival aboard a Wake Forest fire truck. The free event will also include musical performances by local choirs, a children’s craft activity and complimentary Pictures with Santa in the town hall lobby, a food drive, and free hot cocoa.
The holiday fun continues Saturday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m. with the Downtown Holiday Open House. Discover historic downtown’s unique array of shops and restaurants, while also enjoying special offers and complimentary refreshments at participating shops and restaurants, plus live entertainment, a food drive, and fun-filled activities for kids and families.
A special addition to this year’s Lighting of Wake Forest and Downtown Holiday Open House will be a food drive to benefit the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., will be collecting non-perishable food items during both events to help feed hungry people in our community. Collection boxes will be located in the town hall lobby throughout the Lighting of Wake Forest and the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry collection truck will be parked along the 200 block of South White Street during the Downtown Holiday Open House. Area residents are invited to drop off non-perishable foods, including canned meats (tuna, chicken), canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, and cereal. Please note: no glass containers can be accepted. To view a complete list of needs, visit www.triareaministry.com/donate/.
Also on Saturday, the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and the Wake Forest Woman’s Club will present the 2016 Wake Forest Christmas Historic Home Tour from 1 to 7 p.m. – rain or shine. The biennial self-guided tour will feature several Wake Forest homes and other properties decorated for the holidays and open for viewing. This year’s event will also offer wonderful Christmas music and more.
A limited number of tickets are still available for $18 each (price includes tax) and may be purchased online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/christmashometour.aspx and at several area locations.
The weekend’s festivities conclude Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. with a special holiday concert, Rejoice as a Child. Free and open to the public, the performance by the Wake Forest Children’s Choir and the Northeast Piedmont Chorale will take place at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts on Brooks Street.
For complete information on these and other Wake Forest holiday events, including the Dec. 10 Wake Forest Christmas Parade, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov and search “Christmas.”
