Grabbing a bite to eat in downtown Wake Forest is convenient, memorable, and will leave you craving more.  Our award-winning food scene on White Street isn't just affordable, it is rich in big city character that adds to Wake Forest's small-town charm. Restaurants like Shorty's Famous Hotdogs, a local favorite since 1916, Over the Falls, award-winning Black and White Coffee Roasters, and more than a dozen other eateries bring both food and atmosphere to the table for the whole family. Check out one of 300 unique flavors at Lumpy's Ice Cream with the family, settle in for a speciality coffee at Wake Forest Coffee Company with a friend, or relax after work with a craft beer brewed on-site at White Street Brewing Co.  

The dozens of unique events hosted each year in downtown Wake Forest add to the more than 50 community-wide events that take place each year.  The character of downtown is amplified by its many events, including a weekly farmers market, Meet in the Street each May, Forest Fest, Friday Night on White, Six Sundays in Spring (a concert series throughout the summer that attracts more than 15,000 people), The Spirits of Wake Forest Haunted Ghost Tours held every weekend each October, holiday events such as Wake Forest Cares and the Lighting of Wake Forest, and many more.  For detailed information about events occurring downtown, check the Experience Downtown Wake Forest page.

On a stroll down White Street, you'll encounter unique boutiques, thrifty antiques, practical stores for everyday living, and one-of-a-kind local finds.  Our downtown is home to an increasing variety of shops that keep the heart of Wake Forest lively and charming. A few of our key stores include The Cotton Company, offering products from local small businesses and artisan entrepreneurs.  B & W Hardware Co., a downtown staple since 1949, is essential for any fixer-upper - and don’t miss their selection of premium Traeger Grills!  A walk inside the N.C. General Store connects you with quality goods from across our amazing state! It all makes for family fun with the excitement of a big city yet all the charm of a small town. 

The well-rooted and expanding Renaissance Centre for the Arts in Downtown Wake Forest celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2023! The Centre features 10,000 square feet of versatile event and meeting space providing the perfect venue for a variety of events and activities, including exhibits, concerts, plays, recitals, conferences, and private celebrations.