National Cherry Festival
The Grand Traverse region of northern Michigan, known for its tart cherry harvest, is getting ready for the annual National Cherry Festival.
It’s set for July 5 through 12, 2014, and centered on Traverse City, Michigan. More than 150 events are on tap to tempt visitors.
Yes, Road Trips Foodies: of course you’ll find cherries tucked into everything imaginable. The Cherry Pancake Breakfast is July 5,
The Kids’ Cherry Teddy Bear Tea takes place July 6. Separate cherry pie eating contests for adults and children take place several times during the fest, as does the Cherry Pit Spit Contest.
Cherries have a long history in the region (brought over by early settlers), but the first commercial tart cherry orchards in Michigan weren’t planted until 1893. These days, Michigan grows about 75 percent of the tart cherry crop. Check out some recipes online.
