PeakFest 2027 is Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Apex Town Hall campus: artists, two music stages, food trucks and a Kids Zone.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the PeakFest website of the Apex Festival Commission and the Town of Apex PeakFest page. Check the organizer’s page before you go.

PeakFest is Apex’s signature festival and its longest-running one: a full day of local artists, crafters, food trucks and free music on the first Saturday in May. It began as a small pop-up in a church parking lot in 1980, and the volunteer Apex Festival Commission, which runs it, says it now draws about 45,000 people. The 2027 festival, billed as the 45th, is Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Apex Town Hall campus, 73 Hunter St. Vendor, sponsor and volunteer details are on the PeakFest website.

PeakFest 2027 at a glance
Date Saturday, May 1, 2027
Hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where Apex Town Hall campus, 73 Hunter St.
Entertainment Free, on two stages
Pets Not allowed
Organizer Apex Festival Commission

The festival is a community event, not a town one: the commission plans and pays for it, and the town provides the site, police and public works crews. The commission asks people to send questions to it by email, not to the town, and warns that its volunteers may be slow to reply.

Where it is now

In 2026 PeakFest moved to the Town Hall campus while the town works on the Salem Streetscape downtown, and the 2027 festival is on the campus again, according to the commission’s Know Before You Go page. Downtown is a short walk away along the paved Strollway, which starts behind Duncan Commons and passes the restored Tunstall House.

What is there

From the commission’s schedule and map page and the town’s event page:

  • More than 100 vendors, many of them local artists and crafters, plus nonprofits and sponsor booths along Hunter Street and across the campus.
  • Two stages of free live music and dance: the Arch Stage and the Tunstall Community Stage.
  • Food trucks, grouped on the John M. Brown Community Center side of the campus.
  • Town of Apex booths, one for each department, on the center lawn in front of the Senior Center, with Town Council members on hand and “Peak of Good Living” gear for sale.
  • A Kids Zone with inflatables, and roving street performers.

For the 2027 lineup, follow the commission’s website and social media, which it says carry the latest festival details.

Road closures and parking

For the 2026 festival on the campus, the commission and the town listed these closures:

  • Hunter Street closed to cars between Salem Street and Laura Duncan Road from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • The Town Hall parking lot, the arch lot and the lot nearest the John M. Brown Community Center closed from midnight before the festival. The campus lot nearest Mason Street stayed open, and the food truck side kept accessible parking only.
  • GoApex Route 1 ran on a detour.

Suggested parking, then a walk along the Strollway:

  • Saunders Street lot, across from the Police Department
  • Moore Street lot, farther down South Salem Street
  • Apex Baptist Church back lot
  • Apex Public Works building

Look for towing and no-parking signs before you leave the car. The commission also runs free park and ride buses; routes and times are on its Know Before You Go page. The town’s downtown parking map shows other walkable lots.

What to know

  • No pets inside the festival boundaries.
  • Downtown restaurants, pubs and breweries are open before and after; the commission encourages visitors to stop in.

More in town: our downtown Apex and Salem Street guide, things to do in Apex and the things to do this month list.

Frequently asked questions

When is PeakFest 2027?

Saturday, May 1, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Apex Town Hall campus, 73 Hunter St. PeakFest is always the first Saturday in May.

Where is PeakFest held now?

PeakFest moved to the Apex Town Hall campus in 2026 while the town works on the Salem Streetscape downtown. The 2027 festival is on the campus again.

Where do I park for PeakFest?

The commission suggests the Saunders Street lot across from the Police Department, the Moore Street lot, the Apex Baptist Church back lot and the Public Works building, then a walk along the Strollway. Free park and ride is also offered.

Can I bring my dog to PeakFest?

No. Pets are not allowed inside the festival boundaries.

How many people go to PeakFest?

The Apex Festival Commission says the festival draws about 45,000 residents and visitors from across the Triangle.