The National Cherry Festival offers a wide variety of competitive and fun events for all ages throughout the week, including pickleball and beach volleyball tournaments, cherry pit spit contests, pie-eating competitions, and unique activities like balance bike races for toddlers and bubble gum blowing contests for kids. Events are held at multiple venues such as the Traverse City YMCA, Grand Traverse Civic Center, and various parks and beaches, with many contests featuring free registration or modest entry fees.
Highlights include the two-day pickleball tournament, the $50,000 hole-in-one golf contest, Ultimate Air Dogs shows, and the Meijer Festival of Races featuring multiple distance runs through cherry orchards. Family-friendly activities like the Kids’ Pet Show, sand sculpture contests, and the Rubber Duck Race add to the festival’s appeal, making it a lively celebration of sport, skill, and community spirit centered around the cherry theme.
