National Cherry Festival
One of the midwest’s best known foodie fests takes place beginning Fourth of July Weekend. July 3-10, 2010, marks the 84th year for the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan.
It includes all sorts of yummy special events, Road Trips Foodies, such as “Cherries D’Vine” from noon to 4 p.m. July 4. This epicurean event, now in its fifth year, combines cherries with grapes. (Co-incidentally, the Festival Airshow over West Grand Traverse Bay also starts at noon, providing great entertainment!) “Cherries D’Vine” benefits the student scholarship fund earmarked for Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute. The $20 tickets include three food tastes and one wine taste (additional tastes are available for $3 per taste).
From July 5 through 9, visitors can visit the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station operated by Michigan State University Extension in Leelanau County by hopping on the Cherry Connection between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Besides the guided orchard tours, there are exhibits and samples of the newest cherry products and technology inside the station.
The Cherry Pie Baking Contest is July 6. There’s a hot dog eating contest in the Festival Food Court July 6 and 7, with those winners returning on July 9 for the final competition. The Global Wine Pavilion will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. three evenings: July 8, 9 and 10, 2010. All the events are online.
[…] National Cherry Festival […]