Spring in Apex is one of my favorite times of year! Everything is blooming, the days get warmer and longer, and our sweet little town really comes alive with fun and family-friendly events all season long. There’s something for everyone, so keep reading to discover 13 things I recommend you do in Apex this Spring!
And if you’re itching for even more things to get out and do this Spring in Apex, definitely check out all of the ways to celebrate Apex’s 150th throughout the entire year!
Apex Restaurant Week
Try a new place to eat during the very first ever Apex Restaurant Week from March 20th to 26th! Each participating restaurant will offer a special lunch menu for $15 and 3-course dinner menu for $30.
Check out the menu and hours for each restaurant to plan out your week of Apex eats!
Lunch Options:
Dinner Options:
She Farms Apex Tour
Explore each of the women-run farms all around Apex at the She Farms Apex Tour! The tour takes place on Saturday, April 15th from 10-3:00 PM in whatever order you desire. There are 7 participating farms to visit with tours at the top and bottom of every hour.
The participating farms include:
Jean’s Neighborhood Market at 38 Lewter Shop Road
Cloer Family Vineyards at 8624 Castleberry Road
Apex Flower Farm at 805 Wasdell Way
Farrells Creek Farm at 1970 Marthas Chapel Road
Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm at 2170 Marthas Chapel Road
Pack House Farm at 1896 Marthas Chapel Road
Sun Star Farm School at 2092 Marthas Chapel Road
Purchase tickets for $20/carload (or $25/carload after April 1st) and review details about what to expect at each farm. Follow along on the She Farms Apex Facebook page for more updates, including the food truck line-up for the day.
Watch the ACC and NCAA Tournaments at Salem Street Pub
A staple in Downtown Apex, Salem Street Pub offers the perfect spot to watch all of your favorite games during March Madness. Come hungry and order one of their incredible burgers alongside a specialty moonshine cocktail. Locals love the “My Wife Said it Wouldn’t Sell” burger, a unique creation with believe it or not… peanut butter!
A tried-and-true UNC fan myself, I love heading to Salem Street Pub to watch the NCAA Tournament games each year and cheer on the Heels (crossing all my fingers and toes they make it in this year)!
Apex Peakfest
Head to Historic Downtown Apex on Saturday, May 6th for the largest public event in our town, the 42nd Annual Apex Peakfest! Salem Street comes alive for a day of food and fun that includes live music, hundreds of vendors, and entertainment for kids of all ages.
I love to spend the day meandering down Salem checking out the countless tents full of incredible arts and crafts for sale, grab something delicious from one of many food trucks, and simply enjoy the sounds of the live music performances. Kids will especially love the bounce houses, climbing wall, and face painting!
Peakfest is free and open to the public, and the restaurants and shops along Salem Street remain open as well. It's not a bad idea to plan ahead where to park on this busy festival day.
Pick Your Own Strawberries at DJ’s Berry Patch
The strawberry fields at DJ’s Berry Patch open up for the opportunity to pick your own strawberries beginning sometime in April and running through May. Find your own private row in the sprawling field and start picking their sweet, juicy strawberries to fill the basket size of your choice. If you’d rather not do the work yourself, you can still pick up a freshly-picked bucket of strawberries to go!
Check out the Crop Calendar for a full list of all the freshly-picked produce that DJ’s sells each month throughout the year. Their delicious blueberries that become available starting around May or June are another one of my Spring/Summer favorites! Not only is their produce amazing, you also get to support our local farmers everytime you shop.
Before you go, I highly recommend you check their Facebook page for daily updates during the strawberry-picking season.
Make Apex Even BETTER on Think Apex Day
Registration is open for this year’s Think Apex Day! This is a day dedicated to giving back to our wonderful Apex community in which you can volunteer for a variety of activities.
This year’s activities include such things as creating “welcome” bags for new residents of a local senior center, assisting at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, refreshing the fitness trails and stations at Apex Community Park, and more. Be sure to register for an activity of interest ahead of time, as each activity is limited to a maximum number of participants.
The Town of Apex will also be collecting food and hygiene items to donate to the Western Wake Crisis Ministry between March 27th to April 27th. Donations can be dropped off at Apex Town Hall, the Apex Senior Center, and the John M. Brown Community Center.
Apex Farmers Market
The Apex Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings at Beaver Creek Crossings. The market features several vendors with farm-fresh produce of all kinds, eggs, baked goods, meats and seafood, flowers, and so much more. Visitors can also enjoy the live music and ready-to-eat food options while shopping.
Throughout March, the market is held on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and beginning in April that changes to every Saturday. Opening Day this year is Saturday, April 15th! Plenty of parking is available and leashed, friendly dogs are welcome. And as a note, while credit cards are typically accepted, cash is preferred.
Follow the Apex Farmers Market on Facebook or Instagram for the most up-to-date information on which vendors will be at the market each weekend.
Play a Round of Disc Golf at Apex Nature Park
Among its many features, Apex Nature Park is home to an 18-hole disc golf course amidst the pine trees. Our mild Spring weather makes for the perfect time to get out and try this unique outdoor sport gaining in popularity (just try to avoid going for a few days after a rain, as it can get quite muddy out there!).
The course is open during regular park hours, which is 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM each day. I recommend checking out the course map and printing a score card ahead of your visit.
While at the park, you can also enjoy the trails, soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, volleyball, multi-age playground, dog park, and picnic shelter. Free concerts and movies are even offered at the amphitheater during the upcoming summer months. Visiting Apex Nature Park is definitely one of my favorite ways to enjoy a beautiful Spring day in our town!
Peak City Pig Fest
Head on downtown for the 10th Annual Bone Suckin’ Sauce Peak City Pig Fest! This year, the festival takes place on Friday, April 14th from 5:00 - 11:00 PM and Saturday, April 15th from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
On Friday night, enjoy the beer garden, live music, and BBQ while you stroll around the competition area to see the teams prepare for an all-nighter of cooking their best BBQ. The participating teams will be cooking chicken, ribs, beef brisket, and pork to compete for over $12,000 in prize money. Plus don’t miss the rib eating contest between the Apex Police and Fire Departments! The kids area opens up Saturday morning and attendees can enjoy more live music in the beer garden with plenty of BBQ.
Follow along on Facebook for updates as the event gets closer!
Choose from Over 100 Flavors at Pelican’s SnoBalls
Not to be confused with snow cones, Pelican’s serves SnoBalls - incredibly soft and fluffy shaved ice treats that are one of my absolute favorite things to eat in Apex! After a winter hiatus, they open again each year in March through October while the NC weather is perfect for a cold bite. You’ll never run out of new and exciting options to try, with over 100 unique flavors on the menu and a never-ending number of combinations.
My love for these SnoBalls means I’ve tried a TON of their flavors, and one of my personal favorites so far has been Fuzzy Monkey with Sour Tsunami. You can also choose from one of their delectable “Signature SnoBalls” where the combination has been pre-selected for you. Trust me, you don’t know what you’re missing until you try one!
In addition to their permanent location on Williams Street, keep an eye out for their mobile truck that pops up at special events throughout Apex and can even be reserved for your own private gathering. Follow their Facebook page for an announcement about when they will reopen for the season.
Apex Earthfest
Stop by the 2nd Apex Earthfest on Saturday, April 22nd! There will be food trucks, a sustainable fashion show, an electric vehicle showcase, booths, KidZone activities, live music, art, dance, and much more for all ages to enjoy while learning about and celebrating our planet.
Loop Around the Lake at Apex Community Park
Walk, run, or bike the 2-mile loop around the lake at Apex Community Park! I love to check out the wildlife along the shores and enjoy the view from one of many benches along the way. The trail is mostly shaded, flat and fairly wide so it's perfect for strollers, great for dogs, and a beautiful place to spend a nice Spring day.
While you’re there, you can also visit any of the several playgrounds and play just about any sport! The park features basketball courts, a soccer field, baseball fields and batting cages, sand volleyball, tennis and pickleball courts. If you want to enjoy fishing or boating during your visit, Apex residents can apply online for a free fishing license (a small fee applies for non-Apex residents) or a seasonal vessel permit for just 5 bucks (or $40 for non-Apex residents).
*Check out my "Parks of the Peak" series for a separate post dedicated specifically to Apex Community Park to learn more about everything you can do there!
Downtown History Walking Tour
Attend the Downtown History Walking Tour on Sunday, May 7th! The tour is a part of Apex’s 150th Anniversary celebration and will be led by local historian, Toby Holleman. Expect a comprehensive history about the downtown area dating back to pre-1873 incorporation!
*Keep an eye out for additional details on this tour as it comes closer.
I hope to see you out and about in Apex this Spring!