» National Cherry Festival, July 3-10, 2010 Traverse City

National Cherry Festival, July 3-10, 2010 Traverse City

National Cherry Festival Junior
Royale Parade by farlane

Remember the sights, sounds, and smells of a summer celebration in your hometown when you were a kid? Well, happy days return to Traverse City's beautiful Lake Michigan shores July 3-10, 2010, during the National Cherry Festival featuring over 150 events including free air shows over the Bay, colorful parades & marching bands, music shows, sporting events, rides & carnival games on the midway, pie-eating contests, clean blue skies, warm sunshine, crowds of smiling faces, and loads of luscious cherries (2010 will have local cherries!) prepared every way you can imagine!

A Short History of The National Cherry Festival

The Cherry Festival began in 1926 as the Blessing of the Blossoms Festivals in the spring. In 1933 it was renamed the National Cherry Festival and moved to mid to late July in order to coincide with the cherry harvest. It was then later moved again to early July in order to simultaneously occur with the Fourth of July weekend. The festivals annual attendance is now over 500,000 over the course of eight days. The National Cherry Festival has played host to many special guests and dignitaries, including President Gerald R. Ford, Former Astronaut James Lovell, PGA Touring Professional Dan Pohl, Jerry Mathers, and an assortment of Michigan governors.

Global Wine Pavilion

The National Cherry Festival will once again offer wine lovers of all levels an unsurpassed wine experience at the Global Wine Pavillion on the beautiful, tree-studded former Clinch Park Zoo property in downtown Traverse City. The three night event, Thursday-Saturday, July 8-10 from 5-10 PM will feature a superb collection of over 90 wines & almost 40 different grape varieties selected by Master Sommelier Ron Edwards. A $10 entry fee buys you an Andrea Robinson designed wine glass â€“ The One â€“ and your first glass of wine. The One is thought by many experts to be the world's perfect wine glass, so every wine you taste in the Pavilion and at home will be perfectly presented.

Parades, Music, Fireworks & More!

In addition to two parades and the crowning of the 2010 National Cherry Queen, Cherry Festival boasts an air show featuring the Blue Angels, beach volleyball tournament, Old Mission Peninsula bike tour, bed race, car show, live music, carnival midway and classic events like the cherry pit spitting contest.

A Handfull of Cherries by Julie70

More National Cherry Festival Links

8 Comments

Robert Freer

Posted March 15, 2007 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

Would you kindly refresh my memory? Was President Ford the Grand Marshall of the National Cherry Festival Parade in 1974 or 1975? Trying to think back on a time line, I believe it was in 1974 but I can't quite remember.

I lived in Traverse City at the time, and the band I played in - The Foregone Conclusion - was given the honor to play at the dinner/dance at the Grand Traverse Golf & Country Club following the Walter Hagen Golf Tourny...in which the president played.

I just need a quick refresher to the old memory.

Thank you,

Robert Freer

Like or Dislike: 0 2
Marnie Lane

Posted February 22, 2008 at 10:53 am | Permalink

We have a photo of the Traverse City Trojan Marching Band following President Ford's motorcade. The year could be 1977 or 1978. Other details may be confirmed through the Heritage Society.

Like or Dislike: 0 1
Betty

Posted March 25, 2008 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

Do you have an arts & Craft show at the cherry Festival? If so I would like info on it please.

Price,date times & where located.

Thanks

Like or Dislike: 0 1
Absolute Michigan

Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

Versatile, healthy cherries cheer on your summer - LSJ.com

A fruit once recognized only as a filler for your mother's pies can be incorporated into countless recipes, from crisp salads to refreshing lemonade. Now is a good time to explore this fruit's many uses, because it's cherry season.

From Michigan.gov
- Cherries are extraordinary, not only because of their taste but their nutritional value is equal to and often higher than that of many other fruits. They are especially high in potassium and Vitamin C, and low in fat and sodium.
- Did you know that Michigan produces 70 to 75 percent of the tart cherries grown in the United States? That makes Michigan the nation's No. 1 cherry-producing state. Other states that grow tart cherries include Utah, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio, Oregon and Washington.
- Every year in early July, people flock to Traverse City (the "Cherry Capital of the World") to celebrate this favorite fruit at the National Cherry Festival. This year's event is July 5-12 (www.cherryfestival.org).
Continue reading - check out the great recipes while there!

Like or Dislike: 0 1
mariam

Posted February 4, 2009 at 3:05 pm | Permalink

i love cherries awsome YUMMY

Like or Dislike: 0 1
justin comer

Posted December 29, 2009 at 3:58 pm | Permalink

I belive it was in 1976. I was in the parade representing old mission penisula school and remember it being on the countries 200 th birthday.

Like or Dislike: 0 1
Jill

Posted July 6, 2010 at 12:04 pm | Permalink

What days are the pie eating contests?? Someone??

Like or Dislike: 0 1
farlane

Posted July 7, 2010 at 6:53 am | Permalink

Wednesday, July 7 and Friday, July 9, 5-6 PM
At the open space
http://www.cherryfestival.org/events/everything.php

Like or Dislike: 0 1

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By Cherry Festival Traverse City « KeepWonderful.com on 03 Jul 2010 at 12:32 pm

[...] National Cherry Festival, July 3-10, 2010 Traverse CityNational Cherry Festival Junior Royale Parade by farlane Remember the sights, sounds, and smells of a summer celebration in your hometown when you were a kid? Well, happy days return to Traverse City’s beautiful Lake Michigan shores July 3-10, 2010, during the National Cherry Festival featuring over 150 events including free air shows over the Bay, colorful [...]Read More [...]

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