*The Wake Forest Farmers Market will be open its regular summer hours, 8 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, Oct. 18, in its new home, Renaissance Plaza, at the intersection of East Elm Avenue and Brooks Street.
*A public flu shot clinic will be held Thursday, Oct. 16, from 3 to 7 p.m. in Room 165 at the Northern Regional Center on East Holding Avenue. The cost is $30, but there is no charge for uninsured pregnant women and children who qualify for the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) or for county staff who show a county badge. If you cannot attend on that day, you can make an appointment to get the shot at one of the weekly clinics by calling 919-562-6300 for an appointment.
*The annual Halloween Spooktacular will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Flaherty Park Community Center on North White Street. See more details nearer the date. Trick-or-treating will, as always, be on Oct. 31, which this year is a Friday.
*The second annual Witches Walk through historic downtown Wake Forest will be held Thursday, Oct. 23. See this issue for details.
*A free clinic on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church at 3525 Rogers Road will include meals, blood pressure checks, diabetes testing, some medical, dental and vision screening, a food pantry, clothing, children’s books, basic spa services and more. Go to www.touchedbyhope.org to learn more.
*Believe in ghosts? Go to the Wake Forest Historical Museum Sunday, Oct. 26, when narrator Ryan Keith will give you shivers telling tales of local spooks. The free program from 3 to 5 p.m. is sponsored by the Wake Forest Historical Association.
*The 2014 Community & Business Expo sponsored by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce will be held in a new location this year, the Wake Forest Charter Academy on Friendship Chapel Road behind the Gateway Commons shopping center on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 3 to 7 p.m.
*A Halloween Carnival sponsored by the Youngsville Kiwanis Club will be held at the Youngsville Armory Friday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free
*Nov. 4 is Election Day and three bond referendum questions will be on the ballot. You are encouraged to vote for improvements to the town’s streets, parks and recreation, and greenways.
*Looking for local handmade gift ideas? Go to the St. Ives Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the St. Ives Clubhouse, 505 Capellan Street. Proceeds from the bazaar will go to the Tri-Area Ministry food pantry. There is no admission charge.
*The Community Christmas Dinner will take place Monday, Dec. 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in The Forks Cafeteria on Brooks Street. Tickets are $25 each and are available at the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce.
*The Lighting of Wake Forest, the ceremonial lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, will take place Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Centennial Plaza in front of the Wake Forest Town Hall on Brooks Street. After Mayor Vivian Jones lights the tree, Santa Claus will arrive to have his picture taken with everyone. There will be performances by school bands and choirs and free horse and carriage rides.
*The Christmas Historic Home Tour will be held this year from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, and will feature about 10 historic homes. Advance tickets are $16 and $22 on the day. The tour is sponsored by the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and the Wake Forest Woman’s Club. See www.wakeforestnc.gov/christmashometour.aspx or call Senior Planner Michelle Michael at 919-4335-9516.
*A Downtown Holiday Open House will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the historic downtown along South White and surrounding streets. There will be special offers, complementary refreshments, performances by school and dance groups, horse and carriage rides and fun activities for children and families.
*A Joyful Collective, a free Christmas concert for the community will be presented by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Saturday, Dec. 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Binkley Chapel on the campus. Bring the family to enjoy Christmas carols and hot chocolate.
*On Sunday, Dec. 7, celebrate the magic of the holiday season at Christmas in New York with Franc D’Ambrosio , best known as the Phantom in the award-winning musical, “The Phantom of the Opera.” Advance tickets to the event in the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre are now on sale: $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $12 for children 12 and under. At the door tickets will be $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and $25 for children.
*Calls from Santa and Mrs. Santa will be made from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. See the article in this week’s issue to set up a call for your favorite youngster.
*At least two Santas are growing their snow-white beards now, and one of them will be on the Santa float at the end of the Wake Forest Christmas Parade that begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.
All the Christmas events are listed at www.wakeforestnc.gov/christmas-in-wake-forest.aspx.
*The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in Wake Forest will be held Thursday, Jan. 22, at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church on Friendship Chapel Road. The community dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m.
