What's Happening

July 1, 2016

With such an incredible variety of things to do at the 2016 National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, how do you choose? Here are some highlights to help you narrow down your must-do list for this year:

Parade, Parade, Parade!

Cherry Festival is so big, one parade simply isn’t enough. Enjoy three separate parades, each one stuffed with floats, marching bands, flags, and music, and each with their own unique parade personality: the return of the local favorite Heritage Parade on Tuesday, July 5 at 7pm; the Junior Royale Parade on Thursday, July 7 at 6:30pm; and the biggest of them all, The Cherry Royale Parade on Saturday morning, July 9 at 11:15am.

All About That Bass

Music at Cherry Fest is always a knockout, and each year seems to amp up even more with the fest’s selection of live performers at the Pepsi Bay Side Music Stage. This year, Cherry Fest’s headliners include The Voice finalist Laith Al-Saadi, 1964 The Tribute, and country hitmaker Frankie Ballard, plus retro acts Billy Idol, Cheap Trick, and Vanilla Ice.

Rev Up Your Engines

Classic cars are a familiar sight during Cherry Festival, starting with the Old Town Classic Car Cruise on July 1, the perfect opportunity for you to show off your vintage vehicle or check out others. If you want to get out of town for a little while in another kind of vehicle, try one of the Cherry Festival’s Leelanau Peninsula Wine Excursions that showcase both cherry orchard vis-tas and local wines.

Take to the Air

The National Cherry Festival Air Show is a must-see, especially if you’re an aviation fan — or if you just enjoy a good spectacle! Three exciting air shows take place on July 2, 3, and 4, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Demonstration Team, the Redline Airshows aerobatic performance team, and more. You can even listen along live on WTCM AM 580 to get the detailed scoop from air show commentators. And don’t miss the fireworks — some of the most spectacular firework displays in all of northern Michigan take place during Cherry Festival (July 4 and July 9).

Carnival Rides

Traverse City’s favorite amusements return again for this year’s Cherry Fest, right at the corner of Union Street and Grandview Parkway. Whether you prefer sticking to ground level as you try and win a prize at one of the game booths, zipping around in a fast carnival ride, or taking in a unique view of Traverse City from the very top of the ferris wheel, you’ll want to line up for this classic festival fun.

Gettin’ Silly With It

What’s a summer festival without a little fri volity? Try your skill at the famed Cherry Pit Spit contest on July 2; the Cherry Pie Eating contests (throughout the week) that’ll challenge just how much of a dessert fan you actually are; the Kids’ Bubble Gum Blow on July 4; the always entertaining Turtle Races on July 4, and fun Glow Bowling games on July 8.

Foodtacular

Food is everywhere at Cherry Festival, and the reason is twofold — one, for foodie fun, and two, because you’re going to need plenty of fuel to keep up with everything! Blues, Brews & BBQ is one highlight of the fest’s food offerings; the opening BBB event on July 2 mixes up great barbecue with the Blue Angels performance, and it returns for an encore on July 4. On July 3, the Angels supply the fun again during The Great American Picnic. And don’t miss your chance to try local foods at the Farm to Festival Food Truck or from other street food vendors.

Artsy Activities

Bring the whole family to the Senior Center Beach to compete in the Sand Sculpture Competition (July 3), participate in chalk art, enjoy the downtown Juried Arts and Crafts Fair (July 3 on Union Street) featuring over 100 artists from across the Midwest, take your kids downtown for poster coloring and other craft activities, or audition for Cherry Idol (July 8) and show off your musical talent. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians showcase their heritage, art, and costumes at the Pow Wow Dance (July 5).

Sporting Life

Fancy yourself an athlete? Let’s see how you do at one of the many Cherry Festival athletic events, including the Cherry Mile men’s and women’s downtown running race on July 7 and the big Meijer Festival of Races on July 9, also for runners. Golfers, start honing your skills now for your chance to win big prizes in the Million Dollar Hole-in-One Golf Contest, taking place all week. Seniors can enjoy shuffleboard competitions and bingo, and kids can wrangle it out during the Bicycle Rodeo on July 6. Games of a calmer variety take place during the Cherryopoly tournament on July 4.

Famous Fruit

And finally, you can’t go to Cherry Festival and not indulge in all things cherry, from the Very Cherry Pancake Breakfast (July 2) to the Cherry Pie Make and Bake with Grand Traverse Pie Company (July 7), to the always popular Cherry Ice Cream Social (July 9). And don’t forget about the farmers market taking place throughout the festival at the Open Space, which offers the best in fresh-picked cherries right from the tree, showcasing the real reason Cherry Festival is such a hit.

For a complete schedule of events and showtimes, visit cherryfestival.org.