National Cherry Festival

The National Cherry Festival is Traverse City’s summer festival, held around the Open Space, the downtown park on Grand Traverse Bay. The town’s tourist office describes an eight-day party with over 150 family activities: air shows, fireworks, parades, games, races, midway rides, demonstrations, nightly outdoor concerts, “and lots of chances to taste delicious cherry products”. Food is one part of a large summer fair, and this page looks at that part: what to eat and drink, and how to plan around it.

National Cherry Festival 2027

The 101st National Cherry Festival runs from Saturday 3 to Saturday 10 July 2027, at various locations around the Open Space. Independence Day, Sunday 4 July, falls on the festival’s second day. The tourist office notes that almost all events are free. The festival lists the programme and any paid events on its own site.

What to eat and drink

• Cherries, in every form. The orchards around Grand Traverse Bay grow both tart cherries, the ones used for pies, jams, juice and dried cherries, and sweet cherries, eaten fresh. A cherry festival is the time to try them side by side.
• Cherry pie. The American classic is made with tart cherries such as Montmorency.
• Dried cherries and cherry products to take home. They travel well, unlike fresh fruit.
• Local wine. The Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas, just north of town, have wineries. Pair a festival day with a tasting there.

When to come

Eight days, from Saturday to Saturday, leave room to choose. The opening weekend combines the festival with Independence Day. A shorter stay later in the week is the alternative. The programme on the official site gives the days of the air shows and the parades.

Getting there

Traverse City has its own airport, Cherry Capital Airport, with flights from larger hubs. Detroit and Grand Rapids are the main alternatives, followed by a drive north. Downtown, the Open Space is within walking distance of the main streets.

Where to stay and budget

Downtown hotels put you on foot from the festival. More hotels and motels stand along the bay shore. In 2027 the opening weekend is also the Independence Day weekend, so rooms for those nights are the ones to reserve first. With most events free, the budget is accommodation, food, and the paid extras you choose.

Combine with

Later in July 2027, the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California runs from 23 to 25 July. From 4 to 8 August 2027, the Maine Lobster Festival takes over Rockland, on the Maine coast. The guide also compares food tours in Chicago. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore lies west of Traverse City.