About PeakFest and the Apex Festival Commission

WAKEMED Peak Fest – May 2, 2009

The annual WAKEMED Peak Fest that celebrates the “Peak of Good Living” will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2009. This festival has grown from a small community day in a school parking lot to an event which draws hundreds of vendors and over 25,000 people to the streets of downtown Apex. Every year, the Apex Festival Commission plans a bigger and more exciting day.

Children enjoy the KidsZone area with rides and games, and artists and crafters provide lots of shopping opportunities. Festival food like cotton candy, hoagies, and ice cream is sure to please, but you must try some of the international fare like Thai chicken, Chinese noodles and Greek gyros. Local talent and family entertainment provide dance, song and comedy on the stages. The week of activities includes a golf tournament, athletic contests, barbecues, and shopping specials. Festival day begins with a pancake breakfast prepared and served by the Apex Rotary Club in the historic Salem St. Fire Station.

About the Commission

Less than nine years ago, the Apex Festival Commission was founded for the purpose of planning and promoting two major downtown events. In 2005, the Commission passed a motion to suspend the traditional September event, Today and Yesteryear Festival, to focus efforts only on the PeakFest held each spring. The PeakFest has been held for the past 29 years.

The successes of the festivals in the past have been incredible enabling the Apex Festival Commission to give back to the Apex Community over $40,000 in grants over the past 7 years. In 2007 alone, $5000 was contributed to the Halle Cultural Arts Center and ten non-profit groups received grants in Apex. Download this year's grant application. (pdf, 29KB) Grant applications may also be picked up at the Apex Community Center, Halle Cultural Arts Center, and the Public Library.

View pdf of Commission 2009 Bylaws (32 KB)

2009 Commission Board and Committee Members include:

Debra Bunge, Commission Chairperson
John Brown, Commission Vice-Chair/Secretary, Logistics and Security

Jennifer-Leigh Aanerud, Publicity
Rick Gardner, Entertainment
JoAnn Mitchell, Commission Treasurer
Dottie Moorhous, At Large, Family Stage & Mascots
Veronica Rockwell, Sponsorships
Brenda Steen, Community Relations
Donna King, Volunteers
David Wood, Vendors
Rebecca Corrado, Food Vendors
JC Knowles, Farmer’s Market