Area residents are invited to experience the magic of the holiday season during the Wake Forest Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 9. Sponsored by PowerSecure and presented by Wake Forest Downtown Inc., the parade gets underway at 1 p.m.
This year’s procession will feature over 100 colorful floats, four high school marching bands, entries from local businesses, churches, schools and civic groups, and – of course – Santa Claus.
The parade will begin at the intersection of Elm Avenue and South White Street and continue north along South White Street before turning east onto Wait Avenue. It will then turn south onto South Brooks Street and continue until ending at the Elm Avenue intersection.
Several street closures will take effect in the downtown area before the parade. Beginning at approximately 10 a.m., motorists traveling along the Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass will not be permitted to turn onto South Franklin Street. In order to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, motorists will only be allowed to access South Franklin Street via Wait Avenue.
Also closing at 10 a.m. are East Holding Avenue, from South Main Street to South Franklin Street; South White Street from East Holding Avenue to Elm Avenue; and Elm Avenue from South Franklin Street to South White Street.
Starting at noon, South White Street from Elm Avenue to East Roosevelt Avenue will be shut down, as will Wait Avenue from South White Street to South Brooks Street, and South Brooks Street from Wait Avenue to Elm Avenue.
Due to these road closures, area residents planning to visit the U.S. Post Office at 224 East Holding Avenue may wish to consider the Wake Forest Post Office branch located at 910 Gateway Commons Circle. In addition, residents of Heath Ridge Village will only be allowed to access the subdivision via Wait Avenue and South Franklin Street.
The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will allow free parade parking in the lots located at the intersections of South Avenue and South Main Street and Stadium Drive and Rock Spring Road. Parking is also available in the lot just north of the Durham Road and South Wingate Street intersection. Wake Forest Baptist Church will also allow free parade parking. Parade parking signage will be posted at each of these locations.
Handicap-accessible parking will be available at The Forks Cafeteria, 339 Brooks Street; Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 Brooks Street; and SunTrust Bank, 353 South White Street Residents with a Disabled Person placard or license plate will be permitted to access these parking lots via Franklin Street and Elm Avenue. Due to the numerous street closures scheduled in the downtown area, anyone planning to park in one of these lots is urged to arrive no later than noon.
This year’s Christmas parade will feature a designated viewing area for wheelchair-bound attendees. Located in front of the Wake Forest Town Hall at 301 Brooks St., this reserved area will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space will be limited, so guests are encouraged to arrive early. In addition, parties of more than four may be asked to separate and reunite after the parade.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants. The VFW Chuckwagon and Lumpy’s Ice Cream will also be on site in the parking lot of the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, 350 South White Street.
A downloadable Christmas parade map highlighting the parade route, related road closures and event parking is available at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-christmas-parade.aspx.
Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 13, the Town of Wake Forest will rebroadcast the Christmas Parade daily on WFTV 10 at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. throughout the remainder of December. The parade will also be provided online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-christmas-parade.aspx.
For more information about this year’s Wake Forest Christmas Parade, contact Downtown Development Program Assistant Lynnette Beadle at 919-435-9416 or lbeadle@wakeforestnc.gov.
For a complete listing of Town-sponsored 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 atwww.wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx.
