National Cherry Festival 2024 - Traverse City, MI

The 98th National Cherry Festival

Start Date

Saturday, June 29, 2024

End Date

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Festival Location

521 S Union St, Traverse City, MI 49684, United States

Festival Hours

10 am to 10 pm daily

Contact

Phone: (231) 947-4230
Toll-Free: (800) 968-3380
Fax: (231) 947-7435
Email: [email protected]

Website

https://www.cherryfestival.org/

About the National Cherry Festival

The National Cherry Festival is a family-friendly and fun-filled event that takes place in Traverse City, Michigan.

Sometime around 1910, the area’s cherry farmers began to hold informal ceremonies each year at blossom time in May. Traverse City businesses partnered with the local cherry farmers to promote the growing industry and the first festival was held in May 1925. Then known as “Blessing of the Blossoms Festival”, the event has grown to become a widely celebrated community tradition.

The National Cherry Festival hosts over 150 activities for the entire family. The festival features parades, air shows, sporting events, midway rides, other kids’ activities, competitions, vendors, fireworks, and so much more. The festival’s “Cherry activities” include orchard tours, cherry tasting, cherry pie eating contests, Cherry Pit Spit Contests, and a cherry farm market. In 2024, the eight-day National Cherry Festival will take place from Saturday, June 29 to Saturday, July 6.

Trivia

In 1931, the Michigan state legislature passed a resolution making the Traverse City Cherry Festival a national celebration, taking its place with other national festivals.

In 1987, Traverse City set a world record by baking the world’s largest cherry pie which was 17.5 ft wide and weighed 28,350 pounds.

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