National Cherry Festival

A fun day spent at Hickory Hills! Many thanks to the City of Traverse City and Grand Traverse County employees, as well as all our amazing Ambassadors who help make the National Cherry Festival possible! 🍒🍒🍒

Congratulations to Corey Biddinger of Traverse City on his Gold Pin win of a 2 year lease of a Toyota USA Camry Hybrid. Enjoy that new ride Corey! Many thanks to Serra of Traverse City and our “Go For The Gold” Pin Program sponsors Toyota USA, United and truenorth!

🍒 Happy National Cherry Day! 🍒

A day just for cherries! How could we not LOVE this! Harvest is in full swing so be sure to get out to your local farmers market and grab some of those fresh juicy gems before they're gone.

Thank you for making the 98th National Cherry Festival one to remember. Thank you to our growers, sponsors, volunteers, vendors and, of course, YOU! We look forward to seeing you at the 99th National Cherry Festival, June 28 - July 5, 2025.

Please take a moment to complete this short survey at the link below about your visit to the National Cherry Festival. This survey is conducted by Grand Valley State University.

https://gvsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7ZJWW24weXEMUTk

🌴 Time for a Break! 🌴

Thank you to all who made the 98th National Cherry Festival possible! Our team will be taking some much-needed time off to relax and spend time with family from July 10 through July 24. We appreciate your understanding and support.

Enjoy your summer! ☀️

Executive Director Kat Paye and newly crowned National Cherry Queen Tessa Nico had the pleasure of attending the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City Change of Command today. We are incredibly grateful to the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City for their support of the National Cherry Festival. Captain Schanno, it has been an absolute honor working with you during your command and we wish you all the best on your next assignment. Commander Hawn, we look forward to your command and teaching you all things cherries! 🍒🍒

Thank you to all who came out and made this year's Festival a great success! Please be patient as we clean up and pack away the 2024 Festival.

Can't wait to see you in 2025! 🍒🍒

‼️DELAYED till 7 ish due to high winds‼️

Smokey Bear Balloon Event has moved times and location! He will be downtown this evening at the open dirt lot across from the main Open Space, next to Hotel Indigo. Event starts around 6 pm🍒🍒

Don’t miss the chance to experience the Smokey Bear Balloon!

Smokey Bear Balloon Event has moved times and location! He will be downtown this evening at the open dirt lot across from the main Open Space, next to Hotel Indigo. Event starts around 6 pm🍒🍒

Don’t miss the chance to experience the Smokey Bear Balloon!

Stream today's DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade! The parade will kick off at 11:15 a.m.

Watch the Cherry Royale Parade live online You can watch the Cherry Royale Parade from the comfort of your own home or even on a boat!

Welcome to the 8th and final day of the 98th National Cherry Festival!🍒

Join us for the DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade! Enjoy royalty, marching bands, Prince and Princess floats, clowns, specialty entries and much more!

Later in the evening, enjoy local natives, The Accidentals and Joshua Davis performing on the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan! Doors open at 6pm.

To wrap up such a fantastic week, grab your chairs and loved ones for the Festival Finale Fireworks!🎆🎇

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for our daily events!

The 2024-2025 is Tessa Nico!

Congratulations to the first runner up Sophia Stiles!

A huge cherry thank you to Queen Carmen for being such an outstanding role model and ambassador this year 🍒

Cherry Pit Spitting has been CANCELLED tonight due to inclement weather. 🍒🍒

Adult Pie Eating set for tonight has been CANCELLED due to inclement weather. 🍒🍒

Due to potential weather and wind the Smokey Bear Balloon Event is cancelled. For all weather cancellations please stay tuned to our page. 🍒🍒

Due to the inclement weather today, Kids Chalk Art has been cancelled.

Customer Appreciation Day! $7 Cherry Dollars ALL DAY! 🍒

Welcome to day 7 of the National Cherry Festival!🍒

Start off your morning by heading over to cheer on our 2nd annual Pickleball Tournament located at YMCA South.

Next, we have our Cherries Got Talent Finals! Head on over to cheer on the best of the best and see who takes home this year's title!🍒🎤

End the night by watching Gabriel Iglesias aka "Fluffy" on the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Doors open at 6pm.

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for our daily events!

Celebrate the 4th of July with the Cherry Kids Fun Run! This year the event begins at Central Grade School. We will NOT begin on Oak as we did the previous year.

The Cherry Kids Fun Run will be an "out-n-back" style one-mile race starting and ending at Central Grade School on 7th Street. Preregistration is highly suggested. Check-in and registration opens at 5pm and the race takes off at 6pm.

Each child participant receives a medal and giveaway! This run is open to children of all ages. The fee is $10.

Welcome to day 6 of the National Cherry Festival!🍒

Start your morning off at Open Space Park to watch the Ultimate Air Dogs!

Enjoy a performance by Dylan Scott and DASHA at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan! Doors open at 6pm.

Let's finish the night off with a BOOM! We are excited to celebrate Independence Day with 4th of July Fireworks!🎇

A special thank you to the Traverse City BOOM BOOM club for hosting the Fireworks!

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for our daily events!

Welcome to day 5 of the National Cherry Festival!🍒

Start your morning off with some locally grown produce at Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market Official opening at 7:30am.

Then, stop over and see the Smokey Bear Balloon at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons at 3pm!

Finish the evening with a performance by the Goo Goo Dolls and The Sedonas at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan! Doors open at 6pm.

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for our daily events!

Welcome to day 4 of the National Cherry Festival!🍒

Start your morning off by stopping by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Pow Wow at the Bayside Music Stage!

Finish the night with a hilarious performance by Leanne Morgan at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan! Doors open at 6pm.

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for our daily events!

The National Cherry Queen, Queen Carmen, and her Court started out their morning at the Kids Pet Show sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge. They were quickly immersed in the fuzzy (and scaly) environment and we are so thankful we were able to capture every moment of it 🐶🐢

TONIGHT on the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan we will welcome Bret Michaels with special guest Jefferson Starship! Tickets are available at www.cherryfestival.org/bretmichaels.

Special thanks to our media partner - KLT The Rock Station!

Welcome to day 3 of the National Cherry Festival!

From exploring the history of cherries to sampling them, our Orchard Tours have it all! Tours are located at the Michigan State University Horticultural Research Station.

Finish the evening with a performance by Bret Michaels and Jefferson Starship at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan! Doors open at 6pm.

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for daily events!

Welcome to day 2 of the National Cherry Festival!🍒

Start your morning off with Yoga by the Bay on the Cherry Blast Stage!

Then, join us for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Airshow at 1pm!

Finish your evening with a FREE Benefit Concert with performers, Fresh Horses - Garth Brooks Tribute and The Insiders: Tom Petty Tribute Band at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan! Doors open at 6pm.

Visit www.cherryfestival.org/events for our daily events!

What a great day to open the 98th National Cherry Festival! Here's a little recap from our friend John Russell. We'll see you tomorrow for more festival fun!