Starts off summer parties apparently in spring (3)
I believe the answer is:
spa
'spring' is the definition.
(spa can mean a mineral spring)
'starts off summer parties apparently' is the wordplay.
'starts off' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'summer parties apparently' is 'SPA'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for spa that I've seen before include "Health resort near a spring" , "Water-cure town" , "Healthy place" , "Health and beauty treatment establishment" , "Where people go for spring" .)