Family Weekend is coming up, so it’s time to start making reservations and plan an itinerary of what you and your family are going to do.

Old Salem

An essential aspect of Winston-Salem history lies in Old Salem. Old Salem seeks to preserve the Moravian town of Salem by offering a look into early Southern life. Old Salem is located on the outskirts of downtown Winston-Salem and is only 15 minutes from campus. While you can purchase a ticket and go on the full tour, there are many things to do without a ticket. For example, there are three cafés and one restaurant that serve handmade Moravian baked goods. There are also several shops and museums to attend, including their Cobblestone Farmers Market.

However, if you and your family are interested in a tour, there are several ticket options, but they recommend the All-In-One ticket which is $27for adults and $13 for students. Tickets include access to the entire historic district, hands-on demonstrations of historic crafts and entry to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

Dixie Classic Fair

This year Family Weekend falls on the same weekend that the Dixie Classic Fair arrives in Winston-Salem. The fair will open its gates on Friday, Sept. 28, the same day that the activities for Family Weekend begin. While the Family Weekend itinerary is extensive, some families may want to get off campus and explore what Winston-Salem has to offer, and the Dixie Classic Fair is an amazing way to do this.

The fair is a local attraction that dates back to the late 1880s and features food vendor tables, rides and an assortment of competitions throughout the park. It is located at the Winston-Salem fairgrounds, right next to BB&T Field and the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. An adult admissions ticket costs $10 at the gate and this will give you access to the entire grounds. However, you must purchase a ride card, which sell for $0.50 a ticket, or a ride wristband that gives the wearer unlimited rides for the day and costs $40.

The fair also features artwork from local schools, and it has over 100 food stands with several attractions that will take you back in time. Even if you only go for the food, the Dixie Classic Fair is a Winston-Salem tradition that every Wake Forest student should attend.

Reynolda Village

While Reynolda Village is part of Wake Forest’s campus, you don’t feel like you’re on campus while there. There is a small trail that is located behind Winston, the biology building, and it leads straight into Reynolda Village. Reynolda features an assortment of shops, restaurants and walking trails.

There are about 15 shops throughout Reynolda, including boutiques like Monkees, spas like European Touch and art galleries like the START Gallery. It is a beautiful area to walk through during the day and into the early evening. There are a couple of walking trails that twist and turn around the old Reynolds Family Estate and the Gardens are usually full of seasonal flowers that bloom with color throughout the year.

On top of this, there are four restaurants located within Reynolda Village, including the old favorite Silo Bistro & Bar and a new installation called Penny Path Cafe & Crepe Shop that serves select sweet and savory crepes. While on the grounds, you should take an official tour of the Reynolda House Museum of American Art to become fully immersed in the Reynolds family history and their involvement in Wake Forest’s history.

Go out to eat

At this point in the school year, the food on campus may feel a little bland or maybe you’re just tired of eating at the same place three times a day. Family Weekend is the perfect excuse to get off campus and try one of the restaurants in the city. Winston-Salem is known for its extensive selection of restaurants both downtown and throughout the outskirts of the city.

Winston-Salem is filled with many locally-owned restaurants for all different tastes. A few places to try while your parents are in town are Mozzarella Fellas, The Porch, Nawab Indian Cuisine and Jeffrey Adams on Fourth. Mozzarella Fellas serves an array of Italian dishes and features a good number of vegan options. The Porch is a Wake Forest favorite that has a combination of Tex-Mex style food and burgers. Nawab Indian Cuisine serves an extensive buffet during their lunch hours; however, if you want something a little fancier, you should attend their dinner service for a sit-down dinner. Finally, as a final meal with your parents, you should make a reservation at Jeffrey Adams on Fourth for a traditional American dinner.

Going out to eat is a great chance to catch up with your family and talk about everything you have done so far during your college career. It is a great opportunity to relax and unwind before your family leaves and the craziness of college life picks up again just in time for mid-terms.