The 33rd Annual Meet in the Street festival returns to downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, May 4. Presented by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by WakeMed, Meet in the Street annually draws well over 15,000 people to downtown Wake Forest to enjoy many of the best artists and craftsmen in our area.

Due to its tremendous popularity, this year’s festival is expanding to include portions of South Taylor Street, South Brooks Street and South White Street. Meet in the Street festivities will take place along South Taylor and South Brooks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and along South White Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitors to Meet in the Street are invited to browse over 120 arts and crafts vendors, enjoy their favorite festival foods and experience several festival favorites, including the popular Children’s Village. Meet in the Street will also feature several performing artists on two stages. Offering the best in regional talent, this year’s lineup of entertainers includes local dance groups and choirs, a variety of live bands, martial arts academies and more.

After a one-year hiatus, Meet in the Street is returning to South White Street where several downtown merchants will set up booths stretching from East Jones Avenue to Elm Avenue. For the first time ever, a beer garden will be provided in the vicinity of the South White Street and Owen Avenue intersection, along with an entertainment stage featuring several high energy bands.

In order to accommodate Meet in the Street, the Town of Wake Forest will close the following streets and parking lots on Saturday from 4 a.m. to approximately 8 p.m.:

• South Taylor Street, from East Jones Avenue to Elm Avenue
• South Brooks Street, from East Jones Avenue to Elm Avenue
• South White Street, from East Jones Avenue to Elm Avenue
• Town Hall’s Brooks Street parking lot; the lot will be the site of the Bicycle Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., however, it will remain closed throughout the day.
• All other municipal parking lots in the vicinity of town hall, including public and staff parking lots

Free parking will be available in signed spaces along several downtown streets and parking lots. Handicap parking will be provided in the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St., and in the Renaissance Place parking lot, 405 S. Brooks St.

Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to this year’s Meet in the Street in the palm of their hands by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s “Meet Street” function. Designed to offer smart phone users instant access to important details about Meet in the Street, the function includes the complete entertainment schedule, a list of food concessions, information about the Children’s Village, an interactive map and more.

IPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android users can download the town’s free app by searching for “Town of Wake Forest” on iTunes, in the iPhone app store, or in Google Play or by scanning the appropriate QR code provided at www.wakeforestnc.gov/app.aspx.

Meet in the Street is free and open to the public. For more information, including the complete entertainment schedule, an interactive map and concession offerings, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/meet-in-the-street.aspx.