Wake Forest Football Spring Fan Fest Set for April 18

Wake Forest Football Spring Fan Fest Set for April 18

4/6/2026 11:27:00 AM | Football

Be the first to see the 2026 Wake Forest football team on April 18 with kickoff at Allegacy Stadium set for 1:30 p.m. followed by an opportunity to meet the team after and much more throughout the day.

By: Andrew Kovar

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Get your first look at the 2026 Wake Forest football team, Deacon Nation! The Demon Deacons are back at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium for the Wake Forest Spring Football Fan Fest on Saturday, April 18.

The team will arrive at Allegacy Stadium at noon, before suiting up for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Allegacy Stadium.

Fans planning on attending the Wake Forest Spring Football Fan Fest are encouraged to find free parking in the Gold, Red and Starry Lots. Gates 1, 2 and 5 will be open beginning at 11:30 a.m., while fans will be invited to sit on the McCreary Tower/West side of Allegacy Stadium.

The first two quarters will each be 15 minutes played on the north half of the field. Following a brief halftime break, the second half will have two 10 minute, running clock quarters.

During the first half of the game on the south/Deacon Hill side of the stadium, Wake Forest football will welcome local youth flag football teams who will play games in a round robin format. During the halftime break of the Spring Football Fan Fest, members of the Wake Forest football team will take on players from the flag football squads in a skills challenge.

At the conclusion of the open practice and scrimmage, head coach Jake Dickert will announce the winners of the teams B.E.S.T. awards, defining the players on the team that exemplified the team pillars of belief, energy, strain and togetherness throughout the winter workout and spring camps phases.

Following the end of the award announcements, all Wake Forest fans are encouraged to come down to the field for autographs and have a chance to meet their favorite members of the team and staff.

Prior to the Fan Fest, the Demon Deacons will be hosting a free football clinic for grades K-5. The event starts at 11:30 a.m. and will run for 45 minutes before the start of the scrimmage periods. Gate 1 will open at 11 a.m. for the clinic check-in. Pre-registration is required.

Parking
Families planning to attend the free football clinic or Wake Forest fans planning on attending the Fan Fest are encouraged to find free parking in the Gold, Red and Starry Lots.

Gate 5 Activation Area and Concessions
Concessions will open starting at 11:00 a.m. on the west side of the stadium coinciding with Gate 1 opening for the free clinic registration.

Additional activation areas will be located behind the newly upgraded Bob McCreary Video Board Honoring the Class of 1961 near the Gate 5 entrance from Noon to 4 p.m.:

2026 Mayo Bowl Trophy photo station
Food trucks
Face painters (12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
Inflatables
Mobile gaming bus

Giveaways
Get yourself ready for a fun and exciting 2026 season as giveaways include autograph posters, schedule posters, schedule magnets and schedule cards. Visit the fan experience table at the Gate 5 entrance to get your giveaways.

Additionally, there will be a free Wake Forest football shirt for all kids in attendance while supplies last.

Full Weekend of Wake Forest Sports
Following the conclusion of the Wake Forest Fan Fest, the baseball team is set to take on NC State for a 4:00 p.m. scheduled first pitch. With limited tickets available, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets for as low as $12 in advance of this huge Big Four matchup. Additionally beyond the weekend series against the Wolfpack at The Couch, it will be an action-packed Demon Deacons weekend as Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 will be Coach John Hayes and the track and field's program fourth-annual Wake Forest Invite at Kentner Stadium. Admission is free for this event and a complete schedule of events, fan information and more details around this community-engaging event will be shared closer to the meet.

Single Game Tickets on Sale Now for Select Games
Wake Forest Athletics has released ticket-sales opportunities for its marquee 2026 home matchup against CFP Finalist Miami on Friday, Sept. 18 at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. A limited number of single-game tickets for the Deacs-Hurricanes game are available now at the following prices:

Chairback seating: $115 per ticket
Standard seating: $85 per ticket

This offer gives fans an early opportunity to secure seats for one of the most anticipated home games in recent program history.

Premium seating options – including suites, loge boxes, and hospitality packages– are also available for Wake Forest's game against Miami while supplies last. Visit our premium seating page or submit an interest form to learn more.

In addition to the special Deacs-Canes ticket offer, Wake Forest has opened limited single-game ticket sales for Opening Night at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Wake Forest is offering a limited-time discounted promotional rate of just $10 per ticket (plus fees), providing an affordable and family-friendly way for fans, students, youth groups, and community organizations to experience Wake Forest football inside Allegacy Stadium.

These early-release ticket opportunities allow fans to lock in seats now at the best available pricing for two expected sellouts as excitement builds toward another exciting fall of ACC football in Winston-Salem.

Information regarding full single game pricing and availability will be announced prior to the single game on sale in early May.

Season Ticket Offers
As Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie shared after Coach Dickert signed his long-term contract extension – Wake Forest Athletics has asked Deacon Nation to make a personal commitment to the "One More Rule" and attend at least one more Wake Forest football game – in person – in 2026 than a fan did in 2025. Fans are encouraged to review this special offer of the Built in the Dark season ticket plan – just $149 per ticket – with seats available in Sections 1 and 10 (rows FFF–OOO) and Sections 11–12 (rows L–CC) while inventory lasts.

Fans can also review full season ticket options and pricing for the 2026 season by clicking here and purchase online at GoDeacs.com/tickets, or by calling 336-758-3322.

Wake Forest Football Overview
In the greatest debut campaign by a head coach in program history, Dickert, his staff and his players guided the Demon Deacons to just the fourth nine-win season in school history, punctuated by an emphatic 43–29 victory over Mississippi State to capture the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Wake Forest finished the 2025 season 9-4, marking the fifth time in the last nine years the program reached eight or more wins – one of only five ACC programs to accomplish that feat during the span.

With that, the nine victories in 2025 was tied for the most among all FBS and Power 4 programs in the Carolinas.

Dickert surpassed Billy Dooley who won seven games during his first season in Winston-Salem in 1987 and the 2025 campaign was highlighted by marquee College Football Playoff Top-25 wins over SMU and No. 12 Virginia – the Cavaliers' only home loss of the year – as well as a Big Four victory over North Carolina inside a sold-out Allegacy Stadium.

Defensively, the Demon Deacons were among the ACC's elite in 2025, ranking seventh in the league and 44th nationally in scoring defense while finishing top-six in the conference in both total defense and passing defense. Wake Forest did not allow a touchdown against either No. 12 Virginia or North Carolina during the season.

Individual success followed team success, as 12 Demon Deacons earned All-ACC honors in 2025. The selections marked the ninth consecutive season Wake Forest placed six or more players on the All-Conference teams, and since 2019, the program's 74 All-ACC honorees rank fifth most in the ACC. Additionally, three Demon Deacons garnered All-America honors as senior tailback Demond Claiborne and redshirt senior safety Nick Andersen were named honorable mention by Phil Steele and rookie kicker Connor Calvert was named a FWAA Freshman All-American.

The Demon Deacons return top-tier talent again for the 2026 season led by a core group of star defensive back Davaughn Patterson, breakout offensive weapon Carlos Hernandez and the ACC leader in tackles for loss Langston Hardy.

Patterson, an All-ACC selection, made 80 total tackles, 4.0 TFLs, nine pass breakups and forced a fumble. He finished sixth in the ACC and first on the team with nine passes defended. For Patterson's efforts in the memorable win over SMU, he was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week and garnered PFF Team of the Week honors.

Hernandez was the Deacs leading receiver in 2025 catching 40 passes for 611 yards and three receiving touchdowns while also scoring a rushing touchdown and returning an unforgettable punt for a touchdown in the road win at No. 13 Virginia. Against Delaware, he had a career day, catching five passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yarder, the longest reception in school history. He also totaled 100 receiving yards, 51 rushing yards and two total touchdowns in the victory over North Carolina.

Hardy, an All-ACC pick, led the ACC and finished fifth in the country with 17.0 tackles for loss. He also tied for 11th in Wake Forest history with 17.0 TFLs in a season. Additionally, his 7.0 sacks led the team and was good for fifth-most in the conference.

Feedback
As fans have questions, feedback or ideas, Wake Forest Athletics encourages you to email wfsports@wfu.edu with those thoughts.

Follow on Social Media:
Follow the Deacs on social media and GoDeacs.com for the latest announcements and news.

Accounts: