Area residents are invited to experience the wonder and magic of the holiday season at the annual “Lighting of Wake Forest” on Friday, Dec. 1. Sponsored by Traditions at Wake Forest and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., the tree lighting will take place in Centennial Plaza at 301 Brooks Street, the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall.
The evening’s festivities will get underway at 6 p.m. with Mayor Vivian Jones lighting the town’s 30-foot Christmas tree, followed by Santa Claus’ exciting arrival aboard a Wake Forest fire truck. The event will also include performances by local choirs, a children’s craft activity, “Pictures with Santa” in the town hall lobby, a Tri-Area Ministry Food Drive, and free cookies and hot cocoa, while supplies last.
Guests planning to have a photo taken with Santa Claus must pick up a time ticket in the town hall lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m. Designed to reduce wait times, each ticket will indicate the time guests should arrive at the line-up to have their photo taken with St. Nick. Pictures can be viewed and purchased at the Wake Forest CVS, 245 Roosevelt Avenue, beginning Monday, Dec. 4.
Due to time constraints, Santa can only have his picture taken with a limited number of children during the Lighting of Wake Forest. However, Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., will offer two additional opportunities for Pictures with Santa:
- Saturday, Dec. 2; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cotton Company Event Gallery, 306 South White Street, as part of Downtown Holiday Open House
- Saturday, Dec. 9; 10 a.m. to noon, Fidelity Bank, 231 South White Street, prior to Wake Forest Christmas Parade
Please note: Wait times are typically shortest during the Downtown Holiday Open House.
A special part of this year’s Lighting of Wake Forest will be a food drive to benefit the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Wake Forest Downtown will be collecting non-perishable food items to help feed hungry people in our community. Collection boxes will be located in the town hall lobby. Only non-perishable foods can be accepted. Do not bring food in glass containers. The most-needed items are canned meats (tuna, chicken), canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, and cereal. To view a complete list of needs, visit www.triareaministry.com/donate/.
Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry is a non-profit, non-denominational volunteer service organization serving residents of Wake Forest, Rolesville, Youngsville, and Wake County. Tri-Area Ministry serves over 750 families each month and provides 350,000 pounds of food and other items each year.
The Lighting of Wake Forest is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/lighting-of-wake-forest.aspx or contact Downtown Development Program Assistant Jennifer Herbert at 919-435-9427 or jherbert@wakeforestnc.gov.
For a complete listing of the town’s holiday events, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/christmas-in-wake-forest.aspx.
To receive email notifications concerning special events in Wake Forest, sign up for E-Notifier at www.wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx.
