Spring in Apex is such a magical time of year! 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!
#1. 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 in late April and running through May. Find your own private row in the sprawling fields 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 in May 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.
#2. Peakfest
Head to Historic Downtown Apex on May 7th for the largest public event in our town, the 41st 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.
#3. Grab a Burger, Beer, and Bourbon at TapStation
Located at the corner of Salem and Williams Street, TapStation opens for the very first time this Spring! It’s a two story brewery and restaurant with great outdoor space that includes a rooftop bar, firepit, and playground.
The building takes the place of the former Holt & Sons service station, where the new owners have retained its place on the historic registry by enhancing and adding onto the existing structure.
I personally have enjoyed watching the transformation take place, and can’t wait to frequent this great new addition to our ever-changing and growing downtown!
#4. Apex Farmer's Market
The Apex Farmer's Market is open Saturday mornings at The Depot on Salem Street. 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 around mid-April that changes to every Saturday. Free parking is available around downtown Apex and leashed, friendly dogs are welcome. While credit cards are typically accepted, cash is preferred.
#5. 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. 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. 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 after a rain, as it can get quite muddy out there!).
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!
#6. 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 addiction to 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.
#7. Town of Apex Easter Egg Hunts
Check out one of the many Easter Egg Hunts hosted by the Town of Apex this year for your kids AND your pups! More details about each event can be found at the Apex Website.
#8. Bring Your Pups Out to Vicious Fishes Brewery
A lovely spring afternoon at Vicious Fishes Brewery is what Apex dreams are made of! Grab the dogs and the kiddos, enjoy the picnic tables out back along with the wide open green space for running and playing, and of course try one of their many beers (and seltzers) on tap in the biergarten.
If you prefer an early morning visit, the Piranha Joe Coffee shop inside is a great option that also offers the perfect space to “work from home” during the week.
One of my favorite things about Vicious Fishes is that there is almost always a food truck parked outside - 3 each day, to be exact! So come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner to grab a bite and a drink.
If breweries are your jam, be sure to check out another post I wrote all about the Best Breweries in Apex!
#9. Get Out on Jordan Lake
There is so much to do out at Jordan Lake, and our wonderful Spring weather here makes for a great time to experience it all! Camp out at one of five different campgrounds and over 1,000 individual campsites (offering sites for both tents and RVs), spend a quiet afternoon fishing, or relax at one of seven sandy beaches. Get a group together and rent a pontoon boat for the day or ride jet skis, go kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding! You can also hike on nearly 14 miles of trails perfect for easy going family outings (a few of which are available exclusively to campers).
Did you also know that Jordan Lake is home to a large population of bald eagles? Keep an eye out and see if you can spot one flying or fishing on your next trip!
#10. Watch the NCAA Tournament 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!
#11. Have a “SuperFun Saturday” at Halle Cultural Arts Center
If you’ve got kiddos between the ages of 4 and 12 who enjoy arts and crafts, you won’t want to miss this free event! Saturdays from 10:30 - 12:30 PM on March 5th, March 19th, April 2nd, April 16th, and May 21st at Halle Cultural Arts Center located right in the heart of Downtown Apex.
#12. Take a Tour of Cloer Family Vineyards
A somewhat hidden gem of Apex, Cloer Family Vineyards is the only family-owned farm in the Triangle that grows its own grapes and produces its own wines on-site. Visitors will be charmed by the red barn with green tin roof and can wander the vineyards where four different kinds of Muscadine grapes grow. Take a free self-guided tour of the winery and then try the tasting flight of six different wines for just $6.00.
Check out their Calendar and Facebook page for updates on special events at the vineyard, including a pet-friendly outdoor music series aptly named “Toasts and Tunes.”
#13. Picnic & Play at Kelly Road Park
Home to hands-down the best playground in Apex, Kelly Road Park has plenty to offer for children of all ages. Also lovingly referred to as “Castle Park,” your kids will love to spend countless hours playing on the colorful wooden structure with slides and bridges throughout.
There's so much to do here that I've dedicated a whole other blog post to it - check out Parks of the Peak: Kelly Road Park!
The playground area also features a separate section for the littlest of visitors, several different types of swings, a sizable sandbox, ropes for climbing, and more. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park with a covered picnic shelter available as well.
Sports-loving kiddos and adults can also enjoy the softball field, tennis and pickleball courts, and half-court for basketball. A Spring day at Kelly Road Park is guaranteed to be a ton of fun!