*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 Holiday Wake Forest Farmers Market will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Renaissance Plaza where Elm Avenue meets Brooks Street.
*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 on Saturday, Dec. 6. 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.
*Hillside Nursing & Rehab will host a Christmas Open House Sunday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the facility, 968 Wait Avenue.
* The Wake County Genealogical Society will host its holiday presentation, Family Holiday Traditions and Recipes and the stories and photos that go with them, Tuesday, Dec. 9, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Olivia Raney Local History Library at 4016 Carya Drive, Raleigh. Everyone is encouraged to bring food, recipes, photos and stories of traditions to share.
*Calls from Santa and Mrs. Santa will be made from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.
*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.
