2026 National Cherry Festival

Running from July 4th to July 11th, this is the oldest, biggest, and still the champion festival of the region. It celebrates that heritage every year with an eight-day party featuring over 150 family activities: air shows, fireworks, parades (including the nation's largest all-children parade) games, races, midway rides, demonstrations, nightly outdoor concerts, and lots of chances to taste delicious cherry products. Now in its 100th year, the National Cherry Festival is Traverse City's signature event, drawing as many as 500,000 attendees from around the country. Everything is conveniently located within walking distance, and since almost all the events are free, it offers more than a week of affordable family fun.