Clemmons' Wheels and Squeals Brings Out the Best of Small-Town Community

 

If you needed a reminder of why  Clemmons is such a special place to live, the annual Wheels and Squeals festival delivered it in full on Saturday, April 11 at Morgan Elementary School. More than 900 attendees packed the grounds from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an afternoon that had something for everyone — squealing pigs, shiny fire trucks, free bike helmets, and a whole lot of community spirit.

 

Touch-a-Truck Never Gets Old

 

Let's be honest — the touch-a-truck display is the anchor attraction, and it delivers every year. Emergency vehicles and heavy equipment lined up for curious kids (and plenty of adults) to climb on, honk, and explore up close. There's something genuinely magnetic about putting your hand on a fire engine or sitting behind the wheel of a piece of heavy machinery. For a lot of kids, it's the highlight of their spring.

 

The Petting Zoo Was a Fan Favorite

 

Emit's Farm and Adventure Park brought pigs and goats to Morgan Elementary School, and predictably, they were a hit. Whether you're 4 or 44, it's hard to walk past a pen of goats without stopping. Emit's has built a reputation across the region for exactly this kind of hands-on agricultural experience, and their presence added a warm, farm-fresh energy to the whole event.

 

Bike Safety Got Some Serious Attention

 

This year's Wheels and Squeals put a noticeable emphasis on bike safety, and the organizations behind it brought real resources to the table. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Levine Children's Hospital and Safe Kids Northwest Piedmont set up a full bike safety rodeo and helmet fitting station — the kind of practical, potentially life-saving programming that makes community events more than just a good time.

The Village of Clemmons also distributed free bike helmets on-site, making sure no kid leaves without the gear they need to ride safely.

 

Students Giving Back: Twin City Bike Collective

 

One of the most meaningful moments of the day came from the Twin City Bike Collective, a nonprofit run by Summit School students that refurbishes donated bicycles and puts them in the hands of those who need them. Seeing young people take ownership of a community need — and show up to an event like this to do something about it — is exactly the kind of story that makes Clemmons worth covering.

 

Same Time Next Year

 

Wheels and Squeals has earned its place on the Clemmons community calendar. It's free, it's family-friendly, it's educational, and it manages to feel both festive and purposeful at the same time. If you missed it this year, put it on your radar for 2027. And if you were there — you already know.