National Cherry Festival
national cherry festival food festival held annually traverse city michigan united state eightday festival celebrates cherry production grand traverse bay region surrounding traverse city nicknamed cherry capital world festival inaugurated blessing blossom festival since renamed national cherry festival michigan legislature festival held nearly every year since cancellation revered peter dougherty presbyterian missionary established native american mission presentday old mission near tip old mission peninsula dougherty planted first cherry tree flourished much surprise local began plant tree first commercial cherry orchard established beginning th century much lake michigan shoreline especially area surrounding traverse city center wellestablished cherrygrowing industry first festival held may known blessing blossom first cherry queen gertrude brown michigan legislature renamed festival national cherry festival moved july festival cancelled due world war ii traverse city instead celebrated centennial festival extended three day five extended eight day president gerald ford michigan native attended festival led cherry royale parade grand marshal july cherry festival participant earned place guinness book world record baking world largest cherry pie pie ft diameter weighing pound replaced pie baked nine year earlier charlevoix michigan record held july pie weighing lb oz kg foot diameter baked eaten approximately people oliver british columbia festival garnered national attention july magic carpet ride festival midway malfunctioned began lean sway bystander rushed ride held guardrail ride came stop serious injury reported shortly ride dismantled postponement festival official announced thursday april th national cherry festival postponed following year postponement light global health concern regarding covid pandemic festival restarted cherry production michigan cherry production united state food festival michigan wine national cherry festival world largest cherry pie pan airshow