Traverse City
Traverse City, on Grand Traverse Bay, hosts the National Cherry Festival from 3 to 10 July 2027, around the Open Space by the water.
- 1food festival
Food festivals in Traverse City
Petty Officer 2nd Class Levi Read, Public domain
Map of Traverse City
Traverse City sits at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan, in a region of cherry orchards. Its airport is called Cherry Capital Airport. In 2027 the National Cherry Festival runs from 3 to 10 July, at various locations around the Open Space, the downtown park on the bay.
Practical notes
- Cherry Capital Airport is the town’s own airport.
- The Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas, north of town, have orchards and wineries.
The festival week
The 101st edition runs for eight days, from Saturday to Saturday, and Independence Day falls on its second day. According to the tourist office, almost all events are free.
What to eat and drink in Traverse City
The orchards around the bay grow both tart cherries, used for pies, jams, juice and dried cherries, and sweet cherries, eaten fresh. Dried cherries and cherry products travel well as souvenirs. The wineries of the two peninsulas north of town, Old Mission and Leelanau, have tasting rooms.
Where to stay
Downtown puts you on foot from the Open Space. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore lies west of town, on Lake Michigan.