Spring has sprung! The 22nd annual HerbFest returned to Wake Forest’s historic Downtown Arts & Entertainment District this month. The event spanned two consecutive weekends: April 30th through May 2nd, and May 7th through 9th, 2021. HerbFest 2021 came to life at 310 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587, next door to the Cotton Company in the heart of Downtown Wake Forest.
HerbFest, the longest running herb festival in the US, features a range of vendors offering goods for the garden, home, kitchen, and healthy lifestyle. Each year, the event boasts the largest selection of herbs to be found in one place. This year, the International Herb Association designated parsley as the 2021 Herb of the Year, and HerbFest organizers shared the benefits of and uses for the versatile herb.
This year’s HerbFest was as safe as it was family-friendly. The festivities were held outdoors under the beautiful sunshine, and event organizers implemented safety measures in keeping with CDC guidelines.
On Saturday, May 1st, musician Dave Devlin and artist Amanda Wilson, who together form Little Red Birds, entertained the attendees. Wilson accompanied Devlin’s easy-listening tunes, painting live along to the music.
On Saturday, May 8th, local favorite Brogan Gaskill entertained the crowd with his acoustic singer-songwriter stylings.
HerbFest was originally created out of co-founders Bob and Elizabeth Johnson’s love of herbs. Bob served on the Board of the International Herb Association. Later, HerbFest evolved as a vehicle to draw visitors to Downtown Wake Forest when The Johnsons fell in love with the small town’s charm. The couple opened The Cotton Company in late 1999 — now a fixture of the Downtown skyline.
Today, HerbFest raises funds for the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment (GJCAE), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which brings arts education and public art projects to local schools and the community. The Johnsons established the GJCAE in honor of their son, Graham, who was lost to suicide in 2006. The Johnsons’ daughters, Liz and Janna, work with the organization as well.
HerbFest is one of many Wake Forest traditions that exemplify the Town’s unique charm. With over 50 outdoor events each year, Wake Forest residents and visitors enjoy a diverse range of culture and entertainment all year long. No matter the day, Wake Forest delivers a high quality of life that attracts people from all walks of life. Across miles of greenways and spacious parks, the Town lives up to its name as an Eden of natural beauty. Meanwhile, the lively Downtown Corridor is a destination for food, drink, and recreation. Only in a town like Wake Forest can such culture, beauty, and entertainment coexist with so many professional opportunities and resources. Wake Forest possesses an unmatched blend of big-city energy and small-town charm that offers residents the freedom to live, work, and play all within the same community. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, the Town of Wake Forest continues to hum with community-focused, neighborly living. Join us at HerbFest 2022; we look forward to getting back together with friends and neighbors in this special town we call home.
For more information about HerbFest, and to stay up to date on all-things-herbs, like HerbFest on Facebook and follow them on Instagram.
If you would like to discover more about Bob Johnson, his love for Downtown Wake Forest, and his instrumental role in the development of Loading Dock Wake Forest, a Downtown Wake Forest co-working space and startup incubator launching this later this year, read WFBIP’s exclusive interview with Johnson.
Stay in touch with WFBIP! Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. To get the best of local economic development news, subscribe to the monthly WFBIP newsletter.
For more information regarding the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment, please visit the GJCAE website.
