Cherry Festival Competitions

40+ ways to get your game on

By Rachel Pasche | June 28, 2025

Not only does the National Cherry Festival serve up some of the best cherry delicacies, but it also dishes out friendly competition throughout the week! Get sporty, spitty, sandy, or splashed at the various contests held all week, with something for every age group. 

Saturday, June 28

Pickleball Tournament, 8am: A two-day pickleball tournament kicks off the Cherry Festival contests, starting with men’s and women’s doubles. The tournament is hosted at the Traverse City YMCA. Bring your game face and your paddles! Sign up at pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/national-cherry-festival-pickleball-tournament-3. 

Balance Bike Race, 9-10:30am: Get ready to cheer on the bike-riders of the future at this balance bike course at the Grand Traverse Civic Center. Up to 150 young riders (ages 2–5) will be able to showcase their cycling skills at this free event. Riders can register at 8am on the morning of, or at norteyouthcycling.org/calendar/ncf-balance-bike-race.

Bayside Beach Volleyball Tournament, 2-Person Men’s and Women’s, 9am: What better setting for a tournament than the lakeside courts? Root for your favorite twosome as they bump, set, and spike their way to the top. Entry is $35 to play. Register at runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/BaySideBeachVolleyballTournament.

Adult Cherry Spit Contest, 6pm: The furthest pit spit at the National Cherry Festival is 74 feet, per Executive Director Kat Paye. Think you have what it takes to beat it? Sign up for the Cherry Pit Spit contest, held at the Open Space. Registration is free and on-site before the contest. 

Sunday, June 29

Pickleball Tournament, 8am: The tournament continues with a round of mixed doubles. Games start at 8am at the YMCA.

Bayside Beach Volleyball Tournament, Co-ed, 9am: More sand, more volleyball, and more opportunities to cheer on your favorite team! The tournament consists of four-person open and rec co-ed leagues plus a two-person co-ed league. 

Cherry Open Bowling Tournament, 9am: Incredible Mo’s is bringing bowling to Cherry Festival. The tournament includes divisions for seniors, youth, and adults, entry for any division is $15 and includes shoe rental. Register for your age division at cherryfestival.org/events/2025/cherry-open-bowling-tournament.

Monday, June 30

Bayside Beach Volleyball Youth Tournament, 9am: The fun continues with the youth volleyball tournament, split across two days to accommodate different age groups. Monday is 12U, 16U, and Boys tournaments. Registration is $27.50.

Hole-in-One Contest, 9am: X-Golf in Traverse City is hosting a hole in one contest for a chance to win $50,000. Step up to the tee and give it your best swing; daily prizes are awarded for those closest to the pin, and top qualifiers advance to the final shootout on July 5. Attempts are $5 for 3 or $10 for 7.

Kids’ Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 1-3pm: See who can gobble up a piece of cherry pie the fastest at the pie-eating contest, held at F&M Park (corner of Railroad and Washington Streets). This event is free; arrive 15 minutes before the event to register. Each day of the kids’ contest uses 250 slices of pie, according to Mandy DePuy, National Cherry Festival marketing manager. 

Bubble Gum Blow Contest, 2pm: Calling all bubble-blowing masters, this is your time to shine! Head to Clinch Park Kids Zone to see if you’ve got what it takes to blow the biggest bubble. Kids 12 and under can join in the fun and compete in their age groups. Registration runs from 1:45-2:15 and a parent must be present to sign the waiver.

Adult Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 5-6pm: Head on over to the Lays Cherry Blast Stage in the Open Space to try your hand (or rather, mouth) at a fork-free slice of cherry pie. Registration for this free event begins 30 minutes before the start time, and spaces fill up quickly. The adult’s contest uses 200 slices of pie, according to DePuy.

Adult Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6-7pm: The cherry goes in and the pit gets spit out, but how far can you project your pit? Find out at the Cherry Pit Spit contest! Prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the men’s and women’s divisions. This free event is held in the Open Space.

Tuesday, July 1

Bayside Beach Volleyball Youth Tournament, 9am: Tournament day for the 14U and 18U age groups.

Kids’ Pet Show, 9:30am: Enter with your furry friend for a chance to win a prize! This free contest is held at F&M Park for any contestants between the ages of 3–12. Any “live” pets can enter and must be under control of the handler. This year’s categories are: Best Dressed Ensemble, Most Patriotic Pet, Most Royal Pet, Most Creative Cherry-Theme, Most Unusual Pet, and Furthest Distance Traveled. Registration begins on-site at 8:45am.

Bowl for Cherries, 1-10pm: Head to Incredible Mo’s and knock over cherry pins for the chance to win incredible prizes. For $15, you’ll receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, two slices of pizza, unlimited soda, and dessert.

Kids’ Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 1-3pm

Wednesday, July 2

Bubble Gum Blow, 2pm
Adult Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 5pm
Adult Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6pm

Thursday, July 3

Cherry Golf Scramble, 8:30am: Grab a partner and your clubs to join in on this scramble at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Played on Spruce Run (the original resort course), this 18-hole scramble has a shotgun start and prizes for the top teams in the men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions. Proper golf attire is required. Registration is $145 per team: golfgenius.com/register?league_id=11384690103013085375.

Kids’ Sand Sculpture Contest, 9am: Bring your creativity to Sunset Park Beach for the free sand sculpture competition, where you can only use items found on the beach (and food coloring) to bring your beachy creation to life. The contest starts with younger participants and advances by age group. Families and mixed-age groups have from 10:30-noon. 

Ultimate Air Dogs, 11am: Watch dog athletes soar through the air and make a spectacular splash into the water at the Ultimate Air Dogs show, held in the Open Space at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. Register and find more info at ultimateairdogs.com/event-info/2025/CherryFest.html.

Cornhole Tournament, 12-6pm: Toss some bags and throw back some drinks at this iconic tournament hosted by the Michigan Cornhole League and Cornhole America. Held in the beer tent area along West Bay, it’s a scenic spot for some bag-throwing. Registration is $40 per team and cash prizes are awarded to the top teams. Register at cherryfestival.org/events/2025/cornhole-tournament.

Kids Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 1–3pm

Cherry’s Got Talent Finals, 2pm: Come watch the local talent as they showcase their skills on-stage for a chance to win! The finalists will be performing at the Lays Cherry Blast stage. 

Rubber Duck Race, 3:30pm: Send your rubber ducky on a race down the Boardman River! This annual event is put on by the Traverse City Optimist Club; all proceeds go toward youth organizations. Ducks are $5, or $25 for a “six-quack.” Adopt your duck at tcoptimist.org/duck-race/adopt-a-yellow-duck.

Cherry Kids Fun Run, 6pm: Open to kids of all ages, this one-mile run starts at Central Grade School and follows the parade route. Registration is $10 and can be done online or before the event. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/CherryMile

Friday, July 4

Diaper Derby and Toddler Trot, 10am: Meet at F&M Park for a race of the littles three and under, filled with crawling, walking, trotting, and wobbling. Registration for this free event starts at 9am on-site. 

Ultimate Air Dogs, 10am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 6pm
Cornhole Tournament, 12–6pm
Hole in One, 12–5pm
Kids Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 1–3pm
Bubble Gum Blow, 2pm
Adult Cherry Pie-Eating Contest, 5–6pm
Adult Cherry Pit Spit Competition, 6–7pm

Saturday, July 5

Meijer Festival of Races, 7am: Line up with thousands of others (over 2,800, according to Executive Director Kat Paye) to participate in a 5K, 10K, 15K, or half marathon. The shorter races finish along the parade route, while the half-marathon winds through fruit-laden cherry orchards. This is the fastest-growing event of the Cherry Festival; register to find out why! Registration starts at $45: cherryfestival.org/events/2025/meijer-festival-of-races2. 

Hole-in-One, 12–5pm: Finalists compete for a chance at $50,000.

Ultimate Air Dogs, 10am, 12pm, 2pm
Adult Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6-7pm