The 43rd edition of the Wake Forest Fourth of July Celebration will be presented on July 3 and 4 with the stadium show and fireworks display the night of the 3rd and the children’s parade and art and games in the park during the day on the 4th.
But right now the small all-volunteer committee is busy with preparations and they need some help. If you are new to town, helping with the Fourth is a great way to quickly immerse yourself in the community while having fun and longtime residents can get out of rut with a few hours of new experiences.
To volunteer, http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c4caba728abf58-wake lists the specific tasks and times more people are needed. This year as in the past the most volunteers are wanted to help with all aspects of the stadium show. Rob Mitchell, the committee chairman, will be very appreciative.
The activities on Monday, July 4, are free but tickets are needed for Sunday night’s stadium show and fireworks. Many people each year buy their tickets early at a discounted rate of five for $20; tickets at the gate are $5 for everyone over 6 years of age. The discounted tickets will be at the following locations by Friday:
- Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, 305 S. White St.
- Wake Forest Weekly, 229 E. Owen Ave.
- Aloha Tan, 12223 Hampton Way Dr.
- All About Hair & Nails, 12223 Hampton Way Dr.
- Town & Country Hardware at Gateway Commons, 910 Gateway Commons Circle
- NC General Stores, 150 S. White St.
- For Old Times Sake Antiques, 223 S. White St.
- Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
For the first time, advance tickets can be purchased online at www.WFJuly4th.com. You can print out the ticket at home and it must be redeemed for a wristband at the red tent at the main gate.
Mitchell said those game troupers who have portrayed Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam for years will appear again this year, with Bonnie Johnson as Lady Liberty for both the stadium show and the children’s parade. Town Commissioner Greg Harrington will by Uncle Sam Sunday night and Bill Brown will march in the children’s parade Monday morning.
For those new to Wake Forest, Sunday night’s stadium show and fireworks will be in Trentini Stadium on the Wake Forest High School campus on Stadium Drive with the gates opening at 5:30 p.m. On Monday morning, children, parents and dogs will start lining up for the children’s parade at 10 a.m. on North Main Street. The parade starts at 10:30, marching down North Main, around the seminary campus and ending at Holding Park for games and art in the park.
