Senior Parade + Senior Sunrise

Monday, August 24, 2026 - First Day of School Before School Apex Nature Park (Amphitheater Entrance) → AFHS Stadium

This year's theme is Aloha Senior Year.

What It Is

This is the morning your student will remember. The Class of 2027 gathers at Apex Nature Park, decorates their cars, and drives together to Apex Friendship for the first day of school. It is loud, proud, and one of the best mornings of senior year.

After the parade, seniors head to the stadium for food, music, and a senior group photo. That is Senior Sunrise.

The PTSA senior committee has a permit through the Apex Police Department and officers will be directing traffic along the route. Parent volunteers help keep things moving at the park and at the school.

What Your Senior Needs to Know

• Where to meet: Apex Nature Park, Amphitheater / Dog Park entrance (2600 Evans Rd)
• Arrive by 6:00 AM for lineup
• Parade starts moving at 6:30 AM
• Decorate your car to match the Aloha Senior Year theme. Window paint, streamers, inflatables - make it yours. Look at what last year's class did for inspiration.
• Volunteers and police will direct you at the park - just follow instructions
• Prizes for the top 3 decorated vehicles - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place gift cards, judged on the Aloha Senior Year theme
• After parade: Seniors go to the stadium for Senior Sunrise
• Expected participants: about 700 seniors

What Parents Need to Know

• Permitted event through Apex Police Department with officers on the route
• The senior committee needs volunteers at the park and at the school for sunrise
• Snack and water donations help feed about 700 seniors
• This event starts early. Really early.

Senior Sunrise

After the parade arrives at AFHS, seniors head to the stadium for Senior Sunrise.

Tables are already set up in the stadium. The school provides large bins of ice for beverages. The senior committee just needs food to show up.

• PTSA provides light breakfast: water (with drink flavor packets to stir in), donuts, muffins, granola bars, Pop-Tarts, fruit cups
• Gluten-free and allergy-friendly options will be available
• The senior committee will do its best to get the "27" photo on the field in senior shirts. Time is tight that morning, so it may not always come together, but it is one of the coolest photos of the year when it does.

The Senior Committee Needs Your Help

Volunteer: The senior committee needs parade helpers at the park and food servers at the Sunrise. See the full list of roles and times, and sign up, on the Volunteer page.

A photographer: A volunteer to photograph the parade and Sunrise would be great. Sign up on the SignUp Genius.

Donate breakfast: The senior committee serves a light grab-and-go breakfast at Sunrise: donuts, muffins, granola bars, Pop-Tarts, fruit cups, and drinks. Items on the Amazon Wish List help round out the spread.

Local businesses, this is an easy one. You do not have to feed the whole class or commit to anything ongoing. If a business wants to donate donuts or other breakfast items for even part of the group, that is welcome and appreciated. Email [email protected].

Water is always welcome. You never need to ask to donate water. It gets used all year long.

Sign up to volunteer → | Sign up to donate → | Donate money → | Shop the Amazon list →

Photos

Event photos are shared on the AFHS PTSA senior page, the official home for senior photos.

Questions? [email protected] | collegehound.com/community/afhs/seniors

Last updated: August 6, 2026