🌳 Forest Fest, Playoff Hockey, and the NC 'Cuegrass Festival

Good morning, W.Y.R. neighbors! Wild weather week ahead: Summer Thursday, sweltering Saturday, soaked Sunday, sweater (maybe) Monday. In between, Forest Fest turns downtown Wake Forest into a block party, Eric Erdman plays the Listening Room, Fayetteville Street becomes a BBQ carnival, and the Canes drop the puck on Round 1. It’s a lot. You’ll be fine. Get out there (with sunscreen Thursday through Saturday and a raincoat Sunday).

In today’s edition of The WYRe:

Let's get to it.

— Dave & Egle

🌳 Forest Fest 2026
📍 Downtown Wake Forest Centennial Plaza) | Saturday, April 18 | 10 AM to 2 PM | FREE

The 5th annual Forest Fest takes over downtown with a petting zoo, an inflatable obstacle course, Kerr Family YMCA kids’ activities, an Arbor Day tree seedling giveaway, non-profit booths, and vendors everywhere. The Wake Forest Farmers Market extends its hours for the occasion (8 AM to 2 PM). Food trucks include The Naked Empanada, Hot Chixs Hotcakes and Chicken, Blazing Kettle, Little Halos, and Buoy Bowls.

🎸 An Evening with Eric Erdman
📍 The Wake Forest Listening Room at Magnolia Roots | Friday, April 17 | Doors 6:45 PM, show 7:30 PM | $20.34

Alabama singer-songwriter Eric Erdman (formerly of funk-rock band The Ugli Stick) brings his all-ages songwriting showcase to Wake Forest’s best intimate venue. Under 100 seats, attentive room, no talking over the music. This is the kind of show that sells out.

🏒 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1: Canes vs. Senators
📍 Lenovo Center, Raleigh | Times TBA (expect Games 1 & 2 at home this weekend into early next week) | Ticketed

The Canes finished the regular season 53-22-7 (113 points, Metro Division #1, Eastern Conference #1 seed), and they drew the Ottawa Senators in Round 1. Home ice all series. Eighth straight postseason appearance and the vibe is different this year. Times drop any minute, keep an eye on @canes and Lenovo Center socials.

🍖 NC ’Cuegrass Festival (16th Annual)
📍 Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh | Saturday, April 18 | 12 to 6 PM | FREE

The Pit shuts down Fayetteville Street for Ed Mitchell’s BBQ, a craft beer garden, and a full bluegrass lineup. One of Raleigh’s signature spring street parties, and free to walk up. Pair it with Forest Fest in the morning for a full Saturday outdoors.

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-7:45 AM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

Toddler Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 9:15 AM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

Baby Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 11:15 AM

STEM Build (Lego) | Joyner Park CC | 12-4 PM

Homeschool Rec (basketball & volleyball) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2:30 PM

Open Paint Studio | The Makery WF | 1-3 PM

Incredible Science | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 1:30 PM

Craft It: Watercolor Paint n’ Sip | Northeast Regional Library | 2:30 PM

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 3-5 PM

K-5th Adventures | Wake Forest Community Library | 4:30 PM

K-2nd Adventures | Northeast Regional Library | 4:30 PM

Music Bingo | Burnt Barrel | 6 PM

The Gnome Knows Trivia | Norse Brewing | 6:30-8:30 PM

Open Mic and Buck & Bud’s birthday | Bud’s Tavern | 7 PM

Geeks Who Drink Trivia | Compass Rose Brewery | 7-9 PM

Retro Rewind Music Bingo | White Street Brewing | 7-9 PM

Trivia | Local 919 Beer and Wine | 7:30 PM

Karaoke Thursdays | Gatehouse Tavern | 8-11 PM

Wags, Whiskers, and Wonderment by Paws for Life NC | The Historic Sutherland Estate and Gardens, Wake Forest | 5:30 PM tickets

Cocktails, magic, and a silent auction

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park Cc | 8 AM-4 PM

Storytime & Crafts | Joyner Park Cc | 10:15-11 AM

Story Time at the Museum | Museum of Natural Sciences | 10:30 AM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-1:30 PM

Incredible Science | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 1:30 PM

Wake Forest Farmers Market | 8 AM-2 PM (extended for Forest Fest)

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

Downtown Rolesville Farmers Market | Cobblestone Village | 9 AM-1 PM

Forest Fest | downtown Wake Forest | 10 AM-2 PM

Kids Club | The Makery WF | 10 AM | Tickets

Nature Play Day | Prairie Ridge Ecostation | 10 AM-12 PM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

ABC Craft & Learn | Youngsville Library | 10:30-11:15 AM

Family Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 11 AM

Children’s Day Festival | Downtown Cary Park | 1-7 PM 

STEAM Free Play | Youngsville Library | 2-3 PM

Incredible Science | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 12:30 PM & 2 PM

ABC Craft & Learn | Wake Forest Community Library | 2:30 PM

Sunday Morning Yoga | Compass Rose Brewery, Wake Forest | 11 AM-12 PM

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 1-4:45 PM

NERL 10th Anniversary Celebration | Northeast Library | 1-5 PM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-10:15 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park CC | 8 AM-4 PM

Baby Story Time | Wake Forest Community Library | 9:30 AM

Family Play Group | Rolesville Baptist Church | 10:30 AM-12 PM

Sensory Stay and Play | Northeast Regional Library | 10-11 AM

Family Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 11 AM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2 PM

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 3:30-5:30 PM

STEM for Teens | Northeast Regional Library | 5:30 PM 

Bingo Night | Artisan Beer & Cheese, Rolesville | 6-7 PM

Pint & Paint | Norse Brewing | 6-8 PM

Darts | Bud’s Tavern | 7 PM

Hammered Trivia | Blackbird Brewery | 7-9 PM

Trivia | Fortnight Brewing (Wake Forest) | 7-9 PM

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-7:45 AM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

Toddler Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 9:15 AM

Family Storytime | Youngsville Library | 10 AM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

Storytime | Page 158 Books | 11 AM

Homeschool Rec (basketball & volleyball) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2:30 PM

STEM Build (Lego) | Joyner Park CC | 12-4 PM

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 3-5 PM

K-5th Adventures | Wake Forest Community Library | 3:30 PM

Afternoon Adventures | Youngsville Library | 4 PM

3rd-5th Adventures | Northeast Regional Library | 4:30 PM

Kid’s Night $0.99 | Carolina Ale House | 5 PM

Jet Set with James Wine Tasting | Broadsides and Brews | 6-10 PM

Checkmate (chess) | Wake Forest Community Library | 6:30 PM

Trivia | Wakefield Tavern | 7-8:30 PM

Trivia | Artisan Beer & Cheese, Rolesville | 7-9 PM

Music Bingo | Blackbird Brewery | 7-9 PM

Bunco 24 | Fortnight Brewing | 7-9 PM 

White Street Run Club | White Street Brewing | 7-10 PM

Trivia Night | Gatehouse Tavern | 7:30 PM

Trivia Tuesday | Unwined on White | 7:30-9 PM

Karaoke Tuesday | Real McCoy’s | 8-11 PM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park CC | 8 AM-4 PM

Toddler Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 9:30 AM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

Family Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 11 AM

Baby Story Time | Northeast Regional Library | 11:15 AM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2 PM

BotTales | Northeast Regional Library | 4:30 PM

Book Club | Bird’s Nest at Blackbird Brewery | 5-10 PM

Run Club | Blackbird Brewery | 6-8 PM

Watercolor Painting Class | Zinchouse | 6:30 PM tickets

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 6:30-8:45 PM

Troop Mahjong | Artisan Beer and Cheese, Rolesville | 6:30-9 PM

The Art of Wine: A Tasting Experience | Zinchouse | 7 PM Register

Karaoke | Bud’s Tavern | 7 PM

Music Bingo | Gatehouse Tavern | 7 PM

Music Bingo | Fortnight Brewing (Wake Forest) | 7-9 PM

Cornhole Tournament | Compass Rose Brewery | 7-10 PM

Karaoke Night | Carolina Ale House | 8 PM-12 AM

_{This section’s not sponsored. We just think it’s stuff worth knowing. We’ll always tell you when something’s sponsored.}

90 🌡️ 62 | ☀️

86 🌡️ 63 | ☀️

90 🌡️ 62 | 🌤️

70 🌡️ 44 | 🌧️

63 🌡️ 44 | ☀️

71 🌡️ 45 | 🌤️

79 🌡️ 54 | 🌤️

Forecast captured on the Wednesday before this newsletter edition. The weather around here changes fast, so double‑check closer to the day before finalizing plans.

The Canes clinched the East’s #1 seed (53-22-7, 113 pts) and drew the Ottawa Senators in Round 1. Home ice all series. Games 1 and 2 at Lenovo Center, likely this weekend into early next week. Times drop any minute. Follow @canes.

🏒 Round 1 Game 1 | Canes vs. Senators | Lenovo Center, Raleigh | Weekend, time TBA

🏒 Round 1 Game 2 | Canes vs. Senators | Lenovo Center, Raleigh | Early next week, time TBA

Cole Spade | Blackbird Brewery | 6-9 PM
Ron Ross | ZincHouse Winery | 6:30-9 PM
Jared Place | The Cardinal | 9 PM-12 AM

Phillip Page | Artisan Beer & Cheese | 6-9 PM
Pat Tyler | Compass Rose Brewery | 7-9 PM
Grace Lucia | White Street Brewing Co | 7-9:30 PM
Live Music | Gatehouse Tavern | 7-10 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
JT Parrothead | Tonic, Bar and Social Club | 7:30-10:30 PM
Dirty Little Secret | Real McCoy’s | 9 PM-12 AM
The Phoebes | The Cardinal | 9 PM-12 AM

Jared Place | Fortnight Brewing WF | 6-9 PM
Kerry Long | Local 919 Beer & Wine | 6-9 PM
Mark Ficks | White Street Brewing Co | 7-9:30 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Stuart Smally Band | Tonic, Bar and Social Club | 7:30-10:30 PM
Wake Moody | Broadsides & Brews | 7-11 PM
Bubba James & Daniel Carroll: Broken, But Blessed Tour | Bud’s Tavern | 8 PM
Electric Carnival | Real McCoy’s | 9 PM-12 AM
The Blenders | The Cardinal | 9 PM-12 AM

Raleigh Rishi | Artisan Beer and Cheese | 1-4 PM
Busker Night | Tonic, Bar & Social Club | 6-9 PM

Just Us | Local 919 Beer & Wine | 6:30-9 PM

Scarlett Tantrum | Tonic, Bar & Social Club | 7:30-9:30 PM

Thanks for reading today’s edition of The WYRe. That's a wrap for this week. Share it with someone who’s always asking what's going on this weekend.

See you around town!
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