It has been a Wake Forest tradition for 40 years, and after a two-year pause –IT’S BA-A-A-CK.
It will be taking over downtown Wake Forest – White Street and other streets – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, all-day music, dozens of food trucks and many children’s activities.
“This will be our 40th anniversary festival, and after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, we are excited to welcome the community back to White Street for this fun, family-friendly event,” said Liz Simpers, president of the Wake Forest Area Chamber.
Meet in the Street will be held on South White Street from Elm Street to Wait Avenue; on Owen Avenue; and on a portion of Brooks Street near Town Hall.
Arts & crafts vendors and festival business booths will be placed along S. White Street, from the Depot parking lot to Elm Avenue. Visitors can browse booths featuring handmade arts and crafts – from jewelry and candles to signs and pottery, and more – as they meet their neighbors in the streets of Wake Forest. For a list of artisans, visit wakeforestchamber.org/meetinthestreet.
During the festival, local young entrepreneurs ages 9-14 will be selling their handmade items alongside the professional artisans at the Chamber Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Fair sponsored by Gather Group & Co. Located in the Wake Forest Area Chamber parking lot at 350 S. White Street, you’ll find more than 40 booths featuring a variety of items for sale, including: dog treats and bandanas; handmade headbands; wooden signs; sugar scrubs, lip gloss and bath salts; paintings and crafts; jewelry; gluten-free muffins and treats; slime; cake pops; and more.
For families with young children, enjoy free family fun at the Meet in the Street Children’s Village presented by The Goddard School. Located in the Depot parking lot on the north end of S. White Street, the village will include a bounce house; magician shows on the hour every hour starting at 10:00 am; photo ops with Star Wars characters including Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi; and festival booths with arts & crafts and other activities. Also for kids, visitors can enjoy the Town of Wake Forest’s popular Bicycle Safety Fair, located on Brooks Street in front of Town Hall. You’ll also find another bounce house in this location.
Food trucks will be located in a special food court on Owen Avenue behind Fidelity Bank. A few food vendors will also be located in select other areas of the festival, such as near the Children’s Village. A food court with picnic tables, sponsored by Living in Reverie LLC, will be located in front of Town Hall. Sit and enjoy delicious festival eats in the shade while listening to live music at the nearby music stage. Food trucks slated to be at the event include:
- Charlies On Wheels
- Chicke Shacke South
- Kona Ice of Raleigh
- Southern Fried Lumpia Co. Food Truck
- Smiths Smokehouse and Smoothies LC
- Jay’s Italian Ice
- Lawrence & Perry Barbeque
- Pelican’s SnoBalls of Wake Forest
- Peyton’s Place Open Pit BBQ and Fried Chicken
- Sunset Slush DLO
- Cousins Maine Lobster Raleigh
- Fishin Shrimp LLC
- Lumpy’s Ice Cream
- NC Bulkogi
- Stavi’s
- The Naked Empanada, LLC
- SOBER Mobile Bar/Lakeside Drinks
- TJ’s Kitchen
For live music, stop by the main stage, presented by Capital Chevrolet, at the corner of Brooks Street and Owen Avenue to dance the festival away to a variety of live music acts. From 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., a DJ will play some festival tunes. Starting at 11:00 am, enjoy performers from School of Rock locations in Wake Forest, Chapel Hill, Wilmington and Chesapeake, VA.
New to this year’s festival is First Responders Row, located on Brooks Street near Town Hall and sponsored by Southern Lux Living. Visit first responders, ask questions, and get a sneak peek inside their vehicles.
At the Festival, visitors with questions can visit one of two Guest Information Booths, sponsored by Shaw RV and Vision Martial Arts. These booths will be located at both ends of S. White Street.
Free parking will be available during Meet in the Street at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and along several side streets and parking lots throughout downtown Wake Forest and beyond. Please note: some parking lots may appear to be public, when in fact they are private. Read all signage in the parking lot to determine what type of lot you are using.
For updated Meet in the Street information and a Festival map, visit wakeforestchamber.org/meetinthestreet.
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Herb Fest is the longest running herb festival in the United States, and its host is Bob Johnson. The festival has been in at least three locations in downtown Wake Forest through the years, and this week – because of Meet in the Street – will be held next to the Loading Dock farther south on White Street.
There will be fresh organic and heritage herbs and flowers. You have seen the Knock-Out rose bushes around town? Johnson introduced them to Wake Forest several years ago.
There is no admission charge, and you will be treated to live music, food trucks and more.
Herb Fest will be open April 29 to May 1, Friday through Saturday, and the three days May 6 through May 8.
Johnson is offering certified organic grown from organic stock, non GMO, heritage/heirloom varieties of herbs, vegetables, tomatoes, peppers and much more. Perennials are specific to our area, Zone 7 and are also locally NC grown.
Sunday afternoon, you can relax with music at Six Sundays in Spring in Joyner Park from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bring a blanket and a picnic or get food from the food trucks. Orquesta GarDel will be the featured band this Sunday.
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