It’s Cherry Festival Time!
It's Cherry Festival Time in Traverse City, and plenty of events will appeal to foodies out there! Here's a sample.
Cherries D'Vine
Sunday, July 6, Noon - 4 p.m.
NMC's Hagerty Center
Enjoy award winning local wines paired with gourmet grilled cuisine. View the US Navy Blue Angels Air Show Performance from the best seat in the city. Tickets are $15 and include one wine taste and 3 food tastes. Additional wine tastes can be purchased for $2 each and food tastes for $3.
Cherry Connection: Bringing Together Festival, Farm & Fruit
Monday, July 7 - Friday, July 11, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Michigan State University Horticultural Research Station
Escape to a 100-acre research farm in the heart of Cherry Country. Visit a productive orchard in beautiful Leelanau County, where fruit and festival come together at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station operated by Michigan State University Extension. Besides the guided orchard tours, there are exhibits and samples of the newest cherry products and technology inside the station. There are all sorts of "cherry" fun for the kids, including a petting zoo, hands-on experiments, kids poster coloring contest and many other activities.
Sweet Treats Recipe Contest
Tuesday, July 8, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Kitchen enthusiasts from the most experienced to the beginning baker are invited to present their very own cherry sweet treat to Festival Recipe Judges on Tuesday, July 8. Recipes will be welcomed from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Judging will occur from 10:30 a.m. to noon and the awards will be given at 1 p.m.
Each recipe must be homemade, named, original, unpublished, the sole property of the entrant, and not previously submitted to any other contest featuring cherries. Recipes should list ingredients with measurements and state preparation instructions with baking/cooking times and number of servings.
Applications are available at the Festival office by calling (231) 947-4230.
Fire and Smoke by the Bay
Thursday, July 10, Starts at 10 a.m. Festival Open Space at Grandview Parkway and Union Street
Festival officials are calling all backyard B.B.Q.'ers to join other amateur grillers in the Second Annual "Fire & Smoke by the Bay" Grilling Contest. Grillers will be presented with three ample servings of salmon (1.5 lbs.), ribs (full rack), and ground burger (2 lbs.). The task - to prepare all three entree selections with, what might be to some the 'secret ingredient', cherries - all over warm coals in the Festival Open Space. Participants will be presented with a "griller's swag bag" complete with a grillers apron and hat, cherry cooking plank, and more. Each grilling station will be prepped with, charcoal, table coverings, chairs, and trash containers. Each backyard B.B.Q.'er is asked to bring their favorite charcoal grill, cooking and grilling utensils, along with their favorite ingredients (including their own mix of cherries!) for each entree.
Grand Cherries Buffet
Friday, July 11, 11 a.m - 12:30 p.m.
City Opera House; Downtown Traverse City
Last years inaugural event was a sell out! Join the National Cherry Festival and the Old Town Playhouse Performers for a lively luncheon! Enjoy locally-inspired dishes and grand entertainment in the beauty of the Traverse City's historic Opera House. Tickets may be purchased the National Cherry Festival Office or online. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. To order tickets, please call the National Cherry Festival at 1-800-968-3380 or 231-947-4230.
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