National Cherry Festival, July 4-11, 2009 Traverse City


A Handfull of Cherries by Julie70

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 4-11, 2009, 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 prepared every way you can imagine! For more information call 800-968-3380.

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 feature a Global Wine Pavilion that will offer wine lovers of all levels an unsurpassed wine experience on the beautiful, tree-studded former Clinch Park Zoo property in downtown Traverse City. The three night event, Thursday, July 9; Friday, July 10; and Saturday, July 11 will feature a superb collection of over 90 wines selected by Master Sommelier Ron Edwards of Petoskey, Michigan.

The Pavilion will showcase award-winning local, domestic, and international wines covering all major grape varieties and price ranges. In addition, 15 acclaimed craft-brewed international beers will appeal to the hops lover. “This bay side Festival venue will offer the opportunity for wine, beer, and food enthusiasts to enjoy and learn about many award winning wines including several that are produced right here in northern Michigan”, noted Tim Hinkley, National Cherry Festival Executive Director.

More National Cherry Festival Links



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This entry was written by Absolute Michigan and posted on June 30, 2009 at 8:10 am and filed under Arts & Entertainment, Community, Dig Michigan, Dig Michigan Features, Festivals, Attractions & Event Calendars, Food & Dining, Michigan, Michigan Grown, NW, Performance & Dance. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

6 Comments

  1. 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

  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.

  3. 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

  4. 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!

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

    i love cherries awsome YUMMY

  6. 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.

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