Wake Forest will use April 18 as more than a final spring football date. The Demon Deacons are set to host their Spring Fan Fest at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, with the on-field portion scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
The event is designed as a public look at the 2026 team, but the setup around it gives the afternoon a broader game-day feel than a normal spring scrimmage.
The day starts well before kickoff. Wake Forest is also hosting a free football clinic for children in grades K-5, with Gate 1 opening at 11 a.m. and the clinic beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The program says the session will include more than 45 minutes of drill instruction from members of the coaching staff, and participants will receive a free Wake Forest youth football T-shirt.
Once the wider fan event opens up, Wake Forest is planning a much fuller stadium experience than a quiet open practice.
Read More: Temple Owls football wraps spring with Cherry and White game and street fair in North PhiladelphiaThe Gates 1, 2 and 5 will be open, with fans seated on the McCreary Tower west side of the stadium.
Concessions will open at 11 a.m., and activation areas near Gate 5 will run from noon to 4 p.m. with food trucks, inflatables, face painters, a mobile gaming bus, a Mayo Bowl trophy photo station, and giveaways that include autograph posters, schedule posters, magnets, and schedule cards.
The school is also promising a free Wake Forest football shirt for all kids in attendance while supplies last.
On the field, the format will still give fans a real spring football look. Wake Forest says the first two quarters will be 15 minutes each on the north half of the field, followed by two 10-minute running-clock quarters after halftime.
During the first half, local youth flag football teams will play on the south side of the stadium in a round-robin setup, and Wake Forest players will face those youth participants in a skills challenge during halftime.
The event will also close with some direct access for fans. After the scrimmage and the announcement of the team’s B.E.S.T. awards, Wake Forest is inviting fans down to the field for autographs and a chance to meet players and staff.
Free parking is being directed to the Gold, Red and Starry Lots, which adds to the school’s effort to make the day feel open and easy for families and supporters who want more than just a few series of spring football.
Wake Forest already has enough football interest to make the scrimmage matter on its own, but the wider setup is what gives the day a stronger local hook.
The Spring Fan Fest brings football, youth participation, giveaways, and fan access into one place, which is why April 18 looks more like a campus football event than a routine spring practice ending.
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