🌳 HerbFest, BBQ & Bands, Alabama Shakes, and a Chance for the Canes to Sweep

Good morning, W.Y.R. neighbors! Wild festival week ahead: HerbFest kicks off weekend one of its 27th year and turns downtown Wake Forest into an open-air garden, Rolesville’s BBQ & Bands Festival takes over Redford Place Park, Youngsville stacks three events onto a single Saturday, and Alabama Shakes bring their reunion tour to Red Hat Amphitheater. Meanwhile the Canes are up 2-0 in Round 1 and chasing a sweep in Ottawa. Heads up: thunderstorms are trying to crash Saturday afternoon, so have a plan B for the outdoor stuff.

In today’s edition of The WYRe:

Let's get to it.

— Dave & Egle

🍖 Rolesville BBQ & Bands Festival
📍 Redford Place Park, 121 Redford Place Dr, Rolesville | Saturday, April 25 | 12 to 6 PM | FREE admission, $20 tasting card, $40 VIP

Rolesville’s spring flagship. Five bands all afternoon (Asurgent, Partly Rowdy, Mariachi Viva Mexico NC, Just Fine: Mary J Blige Tribute Band, Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience), a BBQ competition with three prizes ($1,000 Champion and $500 Runner-up picked by a blind judge panel, $750 People’s Choice voted on by tasting-card holders), a blown-out Kids Zone with bounce houses and a DJ stage, food trucks, cold beer, and a local vendor market. Grab a $20 tasting card to vote for the People’s Choice. VIP gets covered seating, two drinks, and a swag bag. Storms possible after 2 PM, so ride up early.

🎵 Six Sundays in Spring: Beatlesque (Season Opener)
📍 Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Rd, Wake Forest | Sunday, April 26 | Concert 5:30 to 7:30 PM | FREE

This Sunday kicks off the annual Six Sundays in Spring concert series at Joyner Park Amphitheater. Bring the kids, friends, a picnic and a blanket and settle in for some foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times with Beatles tribute band Beatlesque. Several food truck vendors will be on site. This is weekend one of six: Soul Psychedelique Orchestra (May 3), The Tams (May 10), Marcel Portilla Band (May 17), Blackwater Band (May 24), and Snapback (May 31).

🌿 Wake Forest HerbFest 2026 (27th Annual)
📍 530 S White St, Wake Forest | Weekend one: Friday April 24 to Sunday April 26 (second weekend May 1 to 3) | Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM, Friday hours TBA | FREE admission

The region’s biggest herb and plant festival opens weekend one of a two-weekend run. Organic herbs, veggie starts, native perennials, pollinator plants, food trucks, and live music. Go early Friday or Sunday if you want the best plant selection. Saturday is the crowd day (and the weather risk day). If you miss it, come back May 1 to 3.

🚘 Saturday in Youngsville: Gears, Five Points, and MOM’S Moment
📍 Multiple Youngsville locations | Saturday, April 25 | 8 AM to 4 PM | Mostly FREE

Start at Lifted Lou’s (395 Park Ave) for Gears and Grounds 8 to 10:30 AM, coffee by Steep Banks, Jeeps and classics on the lot. At noon, Five Points Fest kicks off at 100 Holden Rd with makers, authors, tattoo flash from Bad Fun Company, Nomad Coffee, and live music from Broken Anchor. Same window, Workspace Provision Co. hosts MOM’S Moment, a pre-Mother’s Day pop-up with a women-owned makers market, a motivational seminar, and giveaways. Kids get a Family Ice Cream Eating Challenge on Main Street at 1. One town, four hits, one day.

🎸 Alabama Shakes: Reunion Tour
📍 Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh | Saturday, April 25 | 7 PM | Ticketed

Brittany Howard and crew’s long-awaited reunion tour lands at Red Hat on a Saturday night with opener Mon Rovia. Perfect-size outdoor venue for their sound, and the forecast has the storms moving through by evening. This is the concert of the week.

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

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

Rolesville Chamber 2026 Golf Tournament | Heritage Golf Club, Wake Forest | 9:30 AM shotgun | registration required

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

Painting Studio with Clina Polloni | The Makery WF | 1-3 PM | $30, semi-private, ages 14+

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

Craft It | Northeast Regional Library | 2:30 PM

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

K-5th Adventures: Earth Day Chia Creatures | Wake Forest Community Library | 4:30-5:15 PM

K-2nd Adventures: Terrific Trees! | Northeast Regional Library | 4:30-5:30 PM

Business After Hours (Rolesville Chamber) | 108 S Main St, Rolesville | 5:30-7 PM

Youngsville Scavenger Hunt for Couples (SHOW LOVE Date Night) | Self-guided, start anywhere in Youngsville | Flexible | $10

Music Bingo | Burnt Barrel | 6 PM

Shakespeare in the Park | NC Museum of Art, Raleigh | 6-8:30 PM | FREE

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

Thursday Night Global Reads Book Club: It All Comes Down to This | Northeast Regional Library | 6:30-7:30 PM

Not Rocket Science Trivia | Compass Rose Brewery | 7-8:30 PM

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

Carolina Ballet: Celebration of America (Opening Night) | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | 7:30 PM | Ticketed

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

Karaoke Thursdays | Gatehouse Tavern | 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

Wake Forest HerbFest (Day 1) | 530 S White St, Wake Forest | Hours TBA (Sat 9-6, Sun 10-4 published) | FREE

Pop-In and Play | Wake Forest Community Library | 10-11:30 AM

Storytime & Craft | Joyner Park CC | 10:15 AM

Storytime at the Museum | Museum of Natural Sciences | 10:30 AM

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

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

Public Safety Day | Ashcroft Ace Hardware, Wake Forest | 2-7 PM | FREE

Raleigh Earth Day | Harvey Hill, Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh | 5-10 PM | FREE

Rolesville Arbor Day Celebration | Mill Bridge Nature Park, Rolesville | 5:30-8:30 PM | FREE, volunteer sign-up on the Town’s Arbor Day page

Mingle on Main | Downtown Rolesville, Main St corridor | 5:30-8:30 PM | FREE

Brewgaloo Friday Night Kick-Off Party | City Plaza, Fayetteville St, Downtown Raleigh | 6-10 PM | FREE entry, beer sampling tickets available

Music Bingo at Greenway Beer & Wine (4th Friday) | Rolesville | 6:30 PM | Free to play

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

Carolina Ballet: Celebration of America | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | 7:30 PM | Ticketed

Phillips Farms TOUCH A TRUCK Weekend | Phillips Farm, Cary | all day

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

Gears and Grounds | Lifted Lou’s, Youngsville | 8-10:30 AM | FREE

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 8:30 AM-12:30 PM

Wake Forest Farmers Market | 9 AM-12 PM

Wake Forest HerbFest (Day 2) | 530 S White St | 9 AM-6 PM | FREE

Downtown Rolesville Farmers Market | Cobblestone Village, 108 S Main St | 9 AM-1 PM

Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival | Fred G. Bond Metro Park, Cary | 9 AM-5 PM | FREE

Kids Club | The Makery WF | 10 AM | Ticketed

Game On! at Moore Square | Moore Square, 201 S Blount St, Raleigh | 10 AM-6 PM | FREE

DEA National Drug Take Back Day | Wegmans, Wake Forest | 10 AM-2 PM | FREE

Raulston Blooms! and Plant Sale | JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh | 10 AM-3 PM | $5 / $10 family

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

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

Family Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 11 AM

Rolesville BBQ & Bands Festival | Redford Place Park, Rolesville | 12-6 PM | FREE, $20 tasting card, $40 VIP

Blackbird Brewery 3rd Anniversary Party | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest | 12-11 PM | FREE entry

Five Points Fest | 100 Holden Rd Unit F, Youngsville | 12-4 PM | FREE

MOM’S Moment (Pre-Mother’s Day Pop-Up) | Workspace Provision Co., Youngsville | 12-4 PM | FREE entry, $26 VIP

Brewgaloo Saturday Street Festival | Fayetteville St, Downtown Raleigh | 12-8 PM | FREE entry

Open Play Basketball (17 and younger) | Joyner Park CC | 1-3:30 PM

Family Ice Cream Eating Challenge | 116 E Main St., Youngsville | 1-3 PM

Carolina Ballet: Celebration of America (Matinee) | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | 2 PM | Ticketed

Incredible Science | NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh | 2 PM & 3 PM

Poetry Café & Open Mic | Northeast Regional Library | 2-4 PM

STEAM Free Play | Youngsville Library | 2-3 PM

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

3rd-5th Book Club | Northeast Regional Library | 3-4 PM

New Englander Meet Up | Artisan Beer & Cheese, Rolesville | 6-9 PM | FREE

Shadows of the 60s (Evening Show) | Wake Forest Renaissance Centre | 7:30 PM | $30 / $40 reserved

Carolina Ballet: Celebration of America (Evening) | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | 7:30 PM | Ticketed

Back to the 80s Party | White Street Brewing Co, Wake Forest | Evening | FREE entry

Open Mic / Karaoke Night | Compass Rose Brewery | 8-11 PM | FREE

Phillips Farms TOUCH A TRUCK Weekend | Phillips Farm, Cary | all day

Wake Forest HerbFest (Final Day) | 530 S White St | 10 AM-4 PM | FREE

Sunday Morning Yoga | Compass Rose Brewery | 11 AM-12 PM | Free, donations appreciated

Yoga by Serenity Farms | Zinc House | 11:30 AM | Register

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

Carolina Ballet: Celebration of America (Closing Matinee) | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | 2 PM | Ticketed

Six Sundays in Spring: Beatlesque (Season Opener) | Joyner Park Amphitheater, Wake Forest | 5:30-7:30 PM | FREE, bring a picnic (no alcohol, no grills, leashed pets)

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

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

Baby Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 9:30-9:50 AM

Family Storytime | Youngsville Library | 10:30-11 AM

B.Y.O. Book | Northeast Regional Library | 11 AM-12:30 PM

Family Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 11-11:30 AM

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

Teen: Gummy Bear Soap | Northeast Regional Library | 5:30-6:30 PM

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

Pint & Paint: Cape Hatteras Coast | Norse Brewing, Wake Forest | 6-9 PM | Ticketed

Darts | Bud’s Tavern | 7 PM

Hammered Trivia | Blackbird Brewery | 7-9 PM

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

Nerds Night Out | White Street Brewing, 218 S White St, Wake Forest | Evening | FREE

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 6:30-8:45 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 | 9:15-9:45 AM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15-10:45 AM

Family Storytime | Youngsville Library | 10:30-11:15 AM

Storytime | Page 158 Books | 11 AM

Wake Forest Stitchers | Wake Forest Community Library | 12-2 PM

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

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

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

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

K-5th Adventures: Ready, Set, Champion | Wake Forest Community Library | 3:30-4:15 PM

Afternoon Adventures | Youngsville Library | 4-5 PM

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

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

Vision Vibes: Teen Vision Boards | Wake Forest Community Library | 6:30-7:30 PM

Trivia | Wakefield Tavern | 7-8:30 PM

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

Music Bingo | Blackbird Brewery | 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 | Northeast Regional Library | 9:15-9:45 AM

Toddler Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 9:30-9:55 AM

Bookmobile Sneak Peek Tour | Northeast Regional Library | 10 AM-12 PM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15-10:45 AM

Family Storytime | Wake Forest Community Library | 11-11:30 AM

Baby Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 11:15-11:45 AM

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

Spring Into Science | Northeast Regional Library | 4:30-5:15 PM

Run Club | Blackbird Brewery | 6-8 PM

Line Dancing Class | Zinc House | 6:30-8:30 PM | Ticketed

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

Wake Forest Writers’ Group: Meet Local Author Nicole Gulotta | Wake Forest Community Library | 6:30-8 PM

The Art of Wine: A Tasting Experience | Zinc House | 7-8:30 PM | $50

Cape Fear Beer Dinner | Blackbird Brewery, 3608 Rogers Branch Rd, Wake Forest | 7-9 PM | Ticketed

Karaoke | Bud’s Tavern | 7 PM

Music Bingo | Gatehouse Tavern | 7 PM

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

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

85 🌡️ 56 | ☀️

84 🌡️ 60 | 🌤️

82 🌡️ 59 | 🌧️

69 🌡️ 49 | 🌤️

70 🌡️ 49 | 🌤️

68 🌡️ 54 | 🌩️

75 🌡️ 58 | ☁️

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 head to Ottawa up 2-0 after a 2-0 Andersen shutout in Game 1 and a 3-2 double-overtime Martinook winner in Game 2. Games 3 and 4 are on the road. If Carolina takes care of business, the series ends Saturday afternoon in Ottawa. Follow @canes.

🏒 Round 1 Game 3 | Canes at Senators | Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa | Thu, Apr 23 | 7:30 PM ET | TBS, HBO Max

🏒 Round 1 Game 4 | Canes at Senators | Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa | Sat, Apr 25 | 3 PM ET | TBS, truTV, HBO Max

🏒 Round 1 Game 5 (if necessary) | Senators at Canes | Lenovo Center, Raleigh | Mon, Apr 27 | TBA

Ryan Mullaney | Blackbird Brewery | 6-9 PM
Ashley Robinson | Zinc House Winery | 6:30-9:30 PM
Ron Ross | The Cardinal | 9 PM-12 AM

Kyle Mullins | Artisan Beer & Cheese | 6-9 PM
Shane Wilson | Compass Rose Brewery | 7-9 PM
Jim DiBattista | White Street Brewing Co | 7-9:30 PM
Live Music | Gatehouse Tavern | 7-10 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Chris Hooper | Tonic, Bar and Social Club | 7:30-10:30 PM
Thirsty | Real McCoy’s | 9 PM-12 AM
Killing The Void | The Cardinal | 9 PM-12 AM

Heather Rogers | Fortnight Brewing WF | 6-9 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Maverick Rose | Tonic, Bar and Social Club | 7:30-10:30 PM
Neon Lights Band | Real McCoy’s | 9 PM-12 AM
SkinTight | The Cardinal | 9 PM-12 AM

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

One Block Over | Local 919 Beer & Wine | 6:30-9 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!
TheWYReNewsletter.com

Want to get in touch? Send an email to [email protected]