Autumn in Downtown … What Is All The Buzz About?

By Kara Loftin

Downtown Wake Forest is bustling. Autumn brings lots of activity to this area – new businesses and restaurants are opening, the farmer’s market is booming, people are discovering downtown, and everybody is buzzing about what’s going on. Come and see it for yourself!

As always, Second Friday Art After Hours will take place the second Friday of each month. This fall’s dates are: October 14, November 11, and December 9. Select shops and the restaurants are open until 9 p.m. or later that night, with special entertainment throughout downtown. Visit your favorite store or restaurant downtown on Second Friday Art After Hours, or any other night of the week, and soak up the atmosphere of historic downtown Wake Forest.

The Wake Forest Farmer’s Market will be open every Saturday through October, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., in the gazebo parking lot on South White Street. Support local farmers and pick up some of the delicious fruit and vegetables, eggs, meat, homemade soap, and many other things they have to offer. More information about the Wake Forest Farmer’s Market can be found on their website at www.wakeforestmarket.org.

The holidays also bring lots of merriment downtown. The holiday decorations go up in late November in preparation for the Lighting of Wake Forest, the official kick-off of the holiday season. This year’s event will be the first Friday in December. The Lighting of Wake Forest features musical performances by local groups along South White Street, the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree at the gazebo, and a visit from Santa. Contact the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce at 556-1519 for more information about the Lighting of Wake Forest.

After drinking cider, visiting Santa, and watching the annual lighting of Wake Forest, be sure to visit the shops downtown for your holiday shopping. Check out all the great businesses that offer unique gifts and services and consider gift certificates to downtown Wake Forest’s restaurants for your loved ones this holiday season. Many of the shops and businesses will have special events for the holiday season – check www.wakeforestdowntown.com for more information about these events or ask your favorite store or restaurant what special events they will have during the holiday season. Who knows? Santa may even make a visit to downtown Wake Forest for your wish list!

The annual Wake Forest Christmas parade will be held December 10 at 1 p.m., starting on South White Street in front of Wake Forest Florist, heading north to East Wait Avenue, turning right, then right again onto Brooks Street, and ending in the CVS parking lot on Brooks St. Hundreds of your friends and neighbors participate in and attend this parade to celebrate the holidays. The 2004 parade was the largest ever in Wake Forest, featuring floats sponsored by local businesses and civic organizations; performances by local bands, music groups, dance troupes, drum corps, and martial arts schools; classic cars; appearances by elected officials and local celebrities; and more. Make plans now to participate in the parade or just come and watch. You’re sure to see someone you know at the parade or riding a float. It is an annual tradition for thousands of people to celebrate the holiday season with the Wake Forest Christmas parade, which has become one of the biggest and best in the area. If you are interested in participating in this year’s parade or sponsoring a float, contact me at kara@wakeforestdowntown.com or 441-9551. Registration forms for floats and other entries are also available at www.wakeforestdowntown.com.

Your neighbors know how great downtown Wake Forest is. Come see for yourself what the buzz is about!

Kara Loftin is the downtown manager of the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation. She may be reached at 441-9551 or kara@wakeforestdowntown.com. Visit the DRC’s website at www.wakeforestdowntown.com.