Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10am-1pm | Knightdale Station Park
Get ready for a day full of creativity, learning, and fun! Join us as we celebrate the vibrant worlds of art and education in our community. Enjoy educational vendors, school supply giveaways, free haircuts, food trucks, a live DJ, and much more. It’s an event the whole family won’t want to miss!
We hope you will come out and celebrate the wonderful worlds of creative art and education in our community at the Arts & Education Festival!
Everything kicks off at 10am!
Check out these free activities:
- School supplies and backpack giveaway with Town of Knightdale & Rotary Club of Knightdale
- Free haircuts with Cutz By Quick
- Free hair braiding with A's for Kids Non-Profit (registration required)
- Inflatable slides, obstacle course, bounce house, and games
- Celebrate America 250 with Camp Flintlock and enjoy a musket display, block printing activity, quill and ink activity, and fife and drum performances
- Make & take craft with The Scrap Exchange
- Book giveaway with WAKE Up and Read
- STEM play with Marbles Kids Museum
- Robotics builds and demos with RoboThink Raleigh
- Knot tying with Cub Scout Pack 365
- Student read-in with Chi Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
- Music production with Jump Academy NC
Don't miss these other participating organizations for more activities and school supply giveaways!
- Neuse River Middle School
- East Regional Library
- East Wake Education Foundation
- Hodge Road Elementary
- Knightdale Elementary School
- Knightdale-Wake Forest Education Foundation
- Lifelong Learning - Wake County Public School System
- Lockhart Elementary School
- Switch Theatre Company
- United Arts of Wake County
Stage Schedule
- 10-10:10am - Camp Flintlock Drum and Fife Performance
- 10:10-10:50am - DJ
- 10:50-10:55am - Welcome & Town Council Introductions
- 10:55-11:05am - Chi Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Student Read-in
- 11:10-11:30am - DJ
- 11:30-11:35am - Sponsor Recognitions
- 11:35-11:45 - Art Contest Winners Announcement
- 12-12:10pm - Camp Flintlock Drum and Fife Performance
- 12:10-12:45 - DJ
Design a Sneaker
Theme: America 250
Age Categories
7-9, 10-12, & 13-15 - A first-place winner will be selected in each age category.
Prize
Each winner will receive a $50 Rack Room Shoes gift card!
Contest Rules
- Entries must be received by mail or in person no later than July 31.
- Participants must use the provided template.
- Print at home or pick up from the Knightdale Parks & Recreation office.
- Download the template HERE.
- Artwork may not exceed 8.5" x 11".
- All artwork must be hand-drawn.
- The child’s name, age, contact phone number, and email must be written on the back of the design.
- Artwork will be displayed at Knightdale’s Arts & Education Festival on August 15.
- Winners will be announced at the Arts & Education Festival and presented with their prize.
- Artwork can be picked up from the Knightdale Parks & Recreation office after the event until August 28.
Knightdale Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Programs
207 Main St., Knightdale, NC 27545
Office Hours: M-F 8am-5pm
Chick-N-Que
Kona Ice of Wendell
Lil's Cheesesteaks
Wilder Nursery Trail from the roundabout to Knightdale Station Run will be closed from approximately 9:30am until 1:30pm.
To access Accessible Parking, turn onto Whistle Post Way from First Ave, then go left through the roundabout and present your handicap placard to the staff member stationed at Wilder Nursery Trail. They will move the barricade to allow you into the accessible parking lot.
Nearby General Parking is available in the following locations:
- Knightdale Station Park parking near the splash pad and playground
- Street Parking on First Ave (any spaces without cones)
- Street Parking on Knightdale Station Run (any spaces without cones)
- Knightdale Station Park soccer field parking (near YMCA pool)
See the event map for General Parking locations.
The following items ARE allowed: lawn chairs, bag chairs, blankets, and personal coolers (without alcohol).
The following items are STRICTLY PROHIBITED: tents, lawn umbrellas, alcohol, personal grills, and fireworks.
All other park rules and Town ordinances apply.
Knightdale Parks and Recreation is committed to providing an inclusive environment where visitors of all abilities can enjoy our special events.
Parking & Arrival
- All parking areas are paved and include designated accessible parking spaces.
- Large special events may have a designated accessible parking area; please refer to the event map for details.
- Accessible paved routes connect parking areas to primary park amenities and event spaces.
Entrances & Pathways
- All entrances and shared-use pathways throughout the park are accessible and paved.
- Accessible paved sidewalks with curb cuts provide connections between major amenities, including parking areas, event spaces, pavilions, and restrooms.
Facilities & Restrooms
- The park amphitheater (main event space) is a grass lawn that is generally level and accessible at grade from the Wilder Plaza Pavilions or sidewalks closest to the amphitheater stage.
- Concrete benches, without back support, are provided at the front of the amphitheater closest to the main stage. All other seating in the amphitheater is lawn seating; visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.
- Permanent, accessible restroom facilities are located in three areas of the park:
- Wilder Plaza Pavilions/Amphitheater
- Splash Pad/Playground
- Soccer Fields (closest to Soccer Field #2)
- For events using portable toilets, accessible units will be provided.
- Accessible drinking fountains are located outside all restroom buildings.
- Please note: drinking fountains are winterized seasonally and may be unavailable during winter months.
Need a break from the noise and bustle? Visit the Sensory Relaxation Station located next to the Knightdale Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Programs table under the Wilder Plaza Pavilion closest to the restrooms.
The Sensory Relaxation Station is a portable sensory room where light, textures, and interactive equipment are designed to be a calming place that allows those who need it an escape from a sensory-rich environment.
The Relaxation Station is not a play area, and children must be supervised while utilizing the area. Please utilize this space only when necessary to ensure it is available to those who need it.