The National Cherry Festival is a marquee for Northern Michiganders and people from across the midwest, the country, and especially in the last 10 years, across the world. Visitors come from all corners of the globe to celebrate all things cherries, to swim in Lake Michigan (and the dozens of other inland lakes within cherry pit spitting distance of TC), to eat in our incredible restaurants, sample our beer and wine, and take in all things Traverse City.
Coronavirus turned the Cherry Festival on it’s head last year, and many of us have been left with a hunger for festival fun (and for Gibby’s Fries). Here are the seven things we can’t wait to do at the National Cherry Festival 2021.
- Listing to Live Music From Amazing Local Acts
The Cherry Festival is famous for booking international touring acts to play the Bayside Music Stage, and while we aren’t going to see those just yet, it’s putting some focus on the absolutely outstanding Michigan music scene.
Groups like The Drew Hale Band, Kenny Olson, The Broom Closet Boys, and many others will be electrifying the beer tent stage this year; shows you’re absolutely not going to want to miss.
We really miss drinks with friends and some foot-stomping live music, and what better place to get back at it than the National Cherry Festival?
See the concert schedule here.
- Riding Our Bikes With Norte
Norte is arguably the most thoughtful, well-managed, engaging community organization in Northern Michigan. Norte programs get kids, adults, anyone who’s interested in riding a bike excited about doing it more often, with more friends, and in more places.
Norte is offering bike valet services at all major festival events, plus three events of their own: The Cherryrama Bike Trek, The Norte Balance Bike Race, and the Cherry Pie Bike Ride.
Check out when the Norte events are happening here.
- Getting Splashed by The Ultimate Air Dogs
If you’ve ever owned a dog that likes to jump off the end of the dock, you know that watching these dog athletes, or “doglethetes” soar through the air after their toys is a thrill. Over 100 dogs are expected to take to the stage in hopes of putting on a fantastic show and competing for spots in regional and national competitions.
Personally, we like the local dogs who have no aspirations of fame and glory and just like cannonballing into the water.
Learn more about the Ultimate Airdog events here.
- Getting Inspired By the West End Beach Sand Sculpture Content
Brick & Corbett has always been a family business, and in our family, we try to go to a different area beach every weekend. Afterall, it would be a shame to waste the privilege of being within driving distance of literally 50 different public beaches that are beautiful enough to be vacation destinations all on their own. There’s only so many times we can build the same sand castle at those beaches, so getting a little creative inspiration from the outstanding work at this can’t miss annual event.
Find out where and when you can check out these sculpture events here.
- Getting Weird at the Great American Duck Race
There’s no two ways about it; Americans like watching races, and the more unusual the race, the better. You can’t get too much more unusual than the Great American Duck Race. There are no prizes, the ducks likely have no idea they’re racing, but they pick people out of the crowds to hold (and then release) the ducks, and honestly, it is one of the stranger (and entertaining) parts of the Cherry Festival every year.
Find out when and where you can hold a duck here.
- Eating Cotton Candy on a Ferris Wheel at the Midway
There isn’t much more of a quintessentially American experience.
Picture this; the sun is setting over West Bay, you’ve got the people you care about sitting with you, a stick of cotton candy and a fresh squeezed lemonade, and you’re slowly circling above the carnival – the sounds of music, laughter, and the chatter of happy crowds below. It’s summer, you’re here, and we’re back in the experiences we’ve all missed.
Sidenote, as kids (yes, many of us on B&C grew up going to the Cherry Festival midway as kids), we spent all our money on the Gravitron and it was totally worth it.
Find out about the midway hours here.
- Decorating our porches for the Very Cherry Porch Parade
The parades we all love aren’t quite back like we remember them, but that means we get to be a part of the popular Very Cherry Porch Parade. Anyone can participate; register your porch, then “deck it out” (see what we did there?) with all things cherries, summer, and fun.
A lot of downtown neighborhoods joined in on this fun last year, but you can do this from anywhere!
Find out how you can sign up for the porch parade here.
B&C Insider Tip: If you want to have a home in the downtown area so that you can be in the center of the action and walking distance to all the fun the Cherry Festival has to offer, B&C can help. Reach out to us today to find out how we position our buyers with the best offers, the most up-to-date information, and the most competitive offers. Click here to get started!
Your Turn
What are you looking forward to for this year’s National Cherry Festival? Fireworks? Food? Bingo? Or, do you escape town for the week to avoid the crowds? Tell us in the comments.
