Fireworks, food trucks, live entertainment, children’s activities, and more await you at Wake Forest’s 2025 Independence Day Celebration.
Presented by Capital Chevrolet, this year’s celebration marks the 52nd anniversary of our community’s most popular summertime event promising two days’ worth of free fun and excitement for the entire family. For complete details, visit http://bit.ly/WFIndependenceDayCelebration.
The festivities get underway July 3 with the Fireworks Spectacular inside Husky Stadium on the campus of Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the program begins at 6 p.m.
No glass, alcohol, pets, smoking, tents, stakes, or shade structures are allowed on the school campus.
The Ray Band will headline this year’s celebration and take the stage just after 6 p.m. Formerly known as The Nigel Experience, The Ray Band is a high-energy 8-piece ensemble specializing in the soulful sounds of R&B and Motown, Beach, Rock, and today’s hottest hits.
A 20-minute fireworks display will follow, beginning around 9:30 p.m. A variety of food and dessert trucks will be onsite, including Goodness GraceUs, Big B’s Southern Kitchen, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ, Kono Pizza, Cousins Maine Lobster, GoldenKdog, Six Smokin’ Bones, The Flat Drum, Typcees Lemonade, Sweet Treat Express Cotton Candy, Boho Berries, The Rican Lab, JAM Soft Serve Ice Cream & Shaved Ice, Scoop A Cup Italian Ice, Sunset Slush of Johnston County, Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Kona Ice, Kettle Corn for College, Bobastic, and Charlie’s Kabob Grill on Wheels.
During the week of June 30, menus for these food trucks will be provided on the town website at https://bit.ly/WFFireworksFoodTrucks and as a function of the Town app (see Independence Day Celebration, Fireworks – Food Trucks).
Both regular and accessible parking (by identification only) will be available in designated areas on the campuses of Heritage High School, Heritage Middle School, 3400 Rogers Road, Heritage Elementary School, 3500 Rogers Road, and Hope Lutheran Church, 3525 Rogers Road. Parking is prohibited along Forestville Road and Foundation Drive. In addition, some parking lots in the area may appear to be public, when in fact they are private. Private lots are intended for business patrons only. Due to the high volume of attendees expected, area residents are encouraged to make plans with family members and friends to carpool to Heritage High School. During the week of June 30, 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. The Independence Day revelry continues July 4, with the popular Children’s Parade sponsored by the Wake Forest Community Partners. Area youngsters are invited to hop on their bicycles and be a part of their very own “walking parade.” The lineup begins at 10 a.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 10:30 a.m. 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. The Independence Day festivities will conclude at Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave., with Art & More in the Park from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Wake Forest Woman’s Club will offer free arts and crafts activities inside the Wake Forest Community House, also located at 133 W. Owen Ave., including the creation of various patriotic-themed crafts for all ages and cupcake decorating. In addition, the Wake Forest Fire Department will provide free hotdogs, chips, and soft drinks in the gravel parking lot across the street from the Community House and distribute useful information on fire prevention and safety.
The following sponsors have generously contributed to the 2025 Independence Day Celebration: Capital Chevrolet, Walters Insurance Agency, Wildberry Pediatric Dentistry, Brightspeed Fiber Internet, Professor Lending, Hawthorne at Traditions, Lightbridge Academy, Bumgarner & Martin Orthodontics, Primrose School of Heritage Wake Forest, Emerald Family Dentistry, Birkner Insurance, Christian Brothers Automotive, MedFirst Primary & Urgent Care, Yard Party, Hope Lutheran Church, Wake Forest Woman’s Club, and Wake Forest Community Partners.
