More than half a million people are expected to flood the streets of Traverse City, Michigan, as the 97th Annual National Cherry Festival kicks off its eight-day celebration on July 1. This annual Northern Michigan event is one of the country’s favorite summer festivals.
Festival attendees are expected to enjoy all the attractions and activities associated with the festival and provide a welcome stimulus to the local economy.
Discover the cherry blossom capital of the world
The U.S. cherry industry produces over 650 million pounds of sweet and sour cherries annually, with most of the production concentrated on the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) and Michigan.
Michigan grows about 75% of the tart cherry crop, and the five counties surrounding Traverse City produce 40% of the annual US tart cherry crop. Known as the ‘Cherry Capital of the World’, the Traverse City area is home to over 4 million cherry trees that together produce an average of 150-200 million pounds of tart cherries annually.
The Sweet History of the Tart Festival
The first Flower Blessing Festival was held in May 1925, when local businesses partnered with local cherry farmers to promote a growing industry. The festival gained national attention in 1931 when the Michigan legislature passed a resolution to rename it and make it a national celebration.
Over the years, the Super Cherry and Festival of Races has featured carnival attractions, parades, cherry-themed delicacies, and famous performers, as well as the tradition of being crowned the Queen of the Cherry and gorging on farm-fresh cherry products. It has joined the popularity of popular festivals. etc.
today, National Cherry Blossom Festival More than 150 events are held throughout the eight-day festival, most of which are free. Visitors can participate in popular activities such as pit spitting, pie-eating contests and turtle races without paying a dime.
For a small fee, festival-goers can eat the Very Cherry Flying Pancake Breakfast, cruise along the coast of Grand Traverse Bay, and ride the Ferris Wheel along the way. Tickets are required for evening performances by famous artists and can be purchased on the festival website.
Popular national cherry blossom festival event
Cherry Royale Parade: This parade is a festival staple and not to be missed. Featuring floats, marching bands and of course lots of cherries, this parade is a celebration of all things cherries.
Cherry Pit Spit: The event is a crowd favourite, and has been a part of the festival for over 40 years. Participants compete to see who can spit out the farthest cherry seeds, and the winner wins a prize. This popular festival event has even inspired the name of a local amateur baseball team, the Traverse City Pit Spitters.
Air show: Festival air shows are thrilling events featuring aerial acrobatics and stunts. Visitors can watch planes take flight and perform daring maneuvers and tricks.
Cherry Pie Eating Contest: This event is not for the faint of heart. Participants compete to see who can eat the most cherry pies within a time limit. Winners can take home bragging rights and fullness.
concert: The Bayside Music Stage hosts performances nightly by local and celebrity artists. The 2023 festival line-up includes Three Doors Down, Chicago and Flo Rider. Also starring comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy.
Most events are free to enjoy, but the impact of festivals on local economies is staggering. A survey conducted on the 2016 festival found that: Grand Valley State University Reports show that the average out-of-town visitor stays in the area for 3.5 days and spends about $86 per day, increasing revenue for restaurants, attractions, and lodging in the greater Traverse City area.
Other landmarks in Traverse City
looking for another Adventures in Traverse City, Michiganwhile watching the festival?
Extend your stay in Traverse City by planning to attend some of the festivals and booking accommodation at local inns and vacation rentals.
In the weeks before and after the National Cherry Festival, visitors to the area can experience the joy of picking up a pint of freshly picked cherries at roadside cherry stands. Dark and sour cherries are a refreshing snack when exploring the sights of nearby Traverse City.
Fun Fact: Montmorency is the most common variety of tart cherry. These Michigan fruits hold their shape better than sweet cherries grown on the West Coast, making them perfect for baking. But don’t just throw a handful of fresh produce from the roadside farmer’s market into your mouth.
Another popular attraction in the Traverse City area is climbing. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Boating is also available on Great Traverse Bay. The shoreline of Lake Michigan is full of adventures, both sour and sweet.
This article was created by great mittens Syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Matt Hefner is someone who loves everything from Michigan to Maine. He never gets tired of exploring unique locations across America and is always ready to embark on new travel adventures. Owner, Director and Chief His Explorer of VisitMaine.net, AwesomeMitten.com and RootedWanderings.com.
