Two days’ worth of free fun and excitement await you and your family at Wake Forest’s 2021 Independence Day Celebration. For complete details, visit http://bit.ly/WFIndependenceDay.
Fireworks Spectacular
This year’s festivities get underway with the Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 3. Free and open to the public, our community’s most popular summertime event will take place inside Husky Stadium on the campus of Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road. Gates will open at 7:30 p.m. and the fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Due to limited planning time, the Town will not offer concessions or live entertainment as part of this year’s fireworks show. Instead, at 9 p.m. the Town will share on its Facebook page an Independence Day video hosted by Talbot the Town Crier. Featuring Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty and the Board of Commissioners, the video will include a pre-recorded performance by the Band of Oz and an installment of “Kids Say the Cutest Things about America.” The Town will then livestream the fireworks show via Facebook before sharing the full Band of Oz concert.
On-Site Spectators
Area residents are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the fireworks show on the Husky Stadium football field or on one of the designated viewing areas on the Heritage High School campus. Spectators may also sit on the home side stadium bleachers.
Prohibited Items & Search Procedure
Picnic baskets and/or coolers will be allowed on the school campus, but alcoholic beverages, smoking, glass and pets are strictly prohibited. A search process will be required to prevent visitors from bringing unauthorized and prohibited items onto the school campus. Guests who refuse to submit to a visual search will be refused entry.
In addition, no bicycles, skateboards or scooters are allowed inside the stadium, and no chairs or blankets will be permitted on the stadium track.
Sensory Sensitivities
Individuals with sensory sensitivities can check out sensory support items, including noise canceling headphones, weighted blankets and fidgets, at the Wake Forest Information Tent located inside Husky Stadium. Anyone wishing to obtain one or more of these items will be required to provide a photo ID which will be returned upon checking the items back in. For more information, email Specialized Recreation Specialist Kelly Schurtz at kschurtz@wakeforestnc.gov.
Parking
Handicap parking (by identification only) and regular parking will be available in designated areas on the school campus. Parking is prohibited along Forestville Road and Foundation Drive. Some parking lots in the area may appear to be public, when in fact they are private. Read all signage in the lot to determine what type of lot you are using. Private lots are intended for business patrons only. Since parking may be limited, area residents are encouraged to make plans with family members and friends to carpool to Heritage High School.
Motorists
Due to the popularity of the Fireworks Spectacular, motorists should expect delays along all roads in the vicinity of Heritage High School, especially Rogers Road, Forestville Road and Heritage Lake Road. Anyone not planning to attend the Fireworks Spectacular is encouraged to avoid the area and choose an alternate route.
Event Map
In the coming days, an event map highlighting important points of interest at this year’s Fireworks Spectacular, including parking, restrooms and more, will be provided on the Town website at http://bit.ly/WFFireworksSpectacular.
Children’s Parade & Art in the Park
The Independence Day revelry continues Sunday, July 4, with the popular Children’s Parade. Hosted by the Wake Forest Optimist Club, the event offers area youngsters the opportunity to hop on their bicycles and be a part of their very own “walking parade.” The lineup begins at 1 p.m. at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue, near the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St. The procession will get underway at 1:30 p.m.
The parade route will extend from North Main Street, south through the campus of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and west onto South Avenue, before turning south on South College Street and ending at the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave.
Participation in the Children’s Parade is free, but bicyclists are encouraged to wear their helmets. Please note: Wake Forest Police will be on hand to manage traffic and help ensure the safety of the parade participants. Volunteers are needed to help ensure the safety of the parade participants. For more information about the Children’s Parade, email Dawn Nakash at dawn@daybreakmarketing.com.
The Independence Day festivities will conclude with Art in the Park. Sponsored by the Wake Forest Woman’s Club, free arts and crafts activities will take place from 2-4 p.m. inside the Community House, including the creation of various patriotic-themed crafts for all ages, cupcake decorating and more. Participants are also invited to experience and enjoy Holding Park and Holding Park Aquatic Center, both of which are located adjacent to the Community House. For more information about Art in the Park, email Tracy Mahl at tmahlwfwc@gmail.com.
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, updated information about all the Independence Day festivities will be posted on the Town website, Nextdoor site and Facebook page. Smart phone users who have downloaded the Town app will also receive a push notification message concerning any schedule changes.
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