Cherry Festival attendance unpredictable

2008 Cherry Festival

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Tyler Sipe
Tyler Sipe
Tyler Sipe
Tyler Sipe

July 4, 2008

Vendors are optimistic, but officials won't try to guess

BY MARGARET PARSONS The Record Eagle Fri Jul 04, 2008, 09:55 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY -- Gas is more than $4 a gallon, food prices are at an all-time high, the cherry crop has taken a hit, yet National Cherry Festival officials aren't expecting fewer-than-normal celebrants.

In fact, they're taking a no predictions stance.

"We don't forecast, because unlike other business models, ours is so unpredictable," said Tom Menzel, Cherry Festival's executive director. "I would say that if the weather is good and if the gas prices don't deter people from traveling to TC, with the venue we have with the entertainment stage, we should have an extremely successful festival."

High gas and food prices haven't deterred food vendors from claiming festival spots, Menzel said.

And clear skies and pleasant temperatures this weekend should help attract plenty of celebrants.

"As our reputation and brand name continues to improve, it's even more desirable for people to be involved with us," Menzel said. "We have to pick and choose to get the best (vendors)."

Jamie Hansen, owner of festival favorite Gibby's Fries, said their projections haven't been negative, either.

"We've done a few other areas, and they've been good turnout," Hansen said. "The economy isn't the greatest, but you always hope for the best."

Hansen said it's always a shot-in-the-dark when stocking up supplies for the Cherry Festival.

"You have to guess," Hansen said. "But we have the ability to order throughout the week after we see how many people come."

Turnout is expected to be strong this weekend with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in town. The flight team brings its act to town every other year and maintains a loyal fan base.

Festival revenues usually increase about 20 percent when the Blue Angels appear, Menzel said.

This year, the Cherry Festival is drawing international attention. Menzel recently tuned in to a BBC radio broadcast and a caller in London asked for information about Traverse City and the festival, details that Menzel quickly provided.

"I had a little trouble with the accent, but there's no way you buy that coverage," Menzel said.

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2008 Cherry Festival

10 tons of waste recycled at Cherry Fest

The National Cherry Festival's increased focus on thinking green helped boost materials recycled at the 2008 event by about seven percent.
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Updated Aug 14, 2008 9:56 am
1:59 pm: Menzel will leave festival post

Tom Menzel, who overhauled the National Cherry Festival to bring more financial stability to the city's signature summer event, is stepping down as its executive director.
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Jul 22, 2008 2:02 pm
Cherry Festival breaks records across city

Tom Menzel expected a strong year for the National Cherry Festival, but couldn't have predicted it would go so well. "We thought we'd have a good festival, but we definitely didn't expect that we'd have the numbers that came," said Menzel.
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Updated Jul 17, 2008 10:05 am
<a href="http://photos.record-eagle.com/gallery/5422152_8yBZo">Photo Story: Another Fruitful Festival</a>

Select photos from the 2008 National Cherry Festival.
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Jul 14, 2008 10:21 am 1 Photo
Festival of Races complete results

Complete results from the 2008 National Cherry Festival's Festival of Races.
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Jul 13, 2008 10:22 am 1 Photo
Festival week deemed surprising success

Matt and Mary Presnell leaned against a downtown building with their son Boone, 2, as thousands of spectators jostled for the perfect spot to watch the National Cherry Festival's Cherry Royale Parade. The family from Athens, Ga., nearly canceled their annual vacation to Traverse City because of skyrocketing gas prices, but the festival, beaches and other local attractions proved too hard to resist.
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Jul 13, 2008 10:20 am 3 Photos
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Former Glen Lake star romps in 15K

Just like she did in high school, Marissa Treece had one goal when it came to the Cherry Festival 15K race. "I came out here to win," said the 19-year-old former Glen Lake standout. "My goal was to break an hour and I went through it in like 56:30 or something. I did what I set out to do."
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Updated Jul 13, 2008 9:57 am 1 Photo
5K makes it two wins in two weeks for Iott

If there's a women's running race next weekend and Allison Iott is entered, make plenty of room on the medal stand. Iott won the Cherry Festival 5K in her first attempt on Saturday by nearly a full minute.
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Updated Jul 13, 2008 9:57 am
Pine River grad pulls away in men's 15K

Alex Vanias showed off his potential to his future University of Detroit teammates Saturday. The 17-year-old, who just graduated from Pine River, pulled away to win the Cherry Festival 15K by nearly a minute.
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Updated Jul 13, 2008 9:57 am
Yazzie goes from spectator to men's 5K winner

Peer pressure. Andy Yazzie succumbed to it late Friday night. But he didn't mind Saturday morning. The former Calvin College runner won the Cherry Festival 5K, holding off former Suttons Bay standout Kevin Cataldo by two seconds.
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Updated Jul 13, 2008 9:57 am
New National Cherry Queen 'speechless'

Family support and her experience marketing cherry products helped Megan Umulis win the coveted 2008 National Cherry Festival crown after three previous tries at the title.
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Jul 12, 2008 10:06 am 1 Photo
Boaters enjoy perks of life on the water

Mike Lautner and his wife, Mickey, spend two weeks each summer living aboard their 27-foot cruiser during the National Cherry Festival, a time when the Traverse City residents abandon their cars for bikes and take life at a slower pace.
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Jul 12, 2008 10:05 am 1 Photo
Cherry Festival attendance is encouraging

Forget high gas prices and economic troubles, the National Cherry Festival is having a bang-up year. "It's been the best festival since I've been involved, in terms the number of people here," three-year festival Director Tom Menzel said.
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Jul 12, 2008 10:05 am
Mother Nature grabs spotlight for a day

The issue of recycling hits close to home for Port Huron residents Dave and Sandy Hietikko when they watch hundreds of trucks each day haul Canadian trash through their hometown. "It's amazing to see tons of plastic just wasted," she said as she browsed through exhibits at the National Cherry Festival's Environmental Day on Friday.
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Jul 12, 2008 10:05 am 1 Photo
Friday, July 11, 2008
Queen candidates aiming to be royalty

Four candidates are vying to be the 2008 National Cherry Festival Queen, but reigning queen Danielle Moss won't venture a guess as to who'll be crowned tonight.
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Jul 11, 2008 10:32 am 1 Photo
Volunteer honored as distinguished senior

Bea Houghton's 30-year commitment to her volunteer fire department is just one reason she was named the 2008 National Cherry Festival Distinguished Senior. Karen Rosa, Long Lake Township Supervisor, and others in the township office nominated Houghton because she's always willing to help, and doesn't ask for anything in return.
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Jul 11, 2008 10:31 am 1 Photo
75 canines vie for top-dog status

Mike Rutledge jogs 20 miles a week with his dog Onyx, watches the animal's diet and, when the weather is good, takes the black Labrador retriever to the Open Space boat launch to test her progress. Onyx, 6, is among about 75 high-flying dogs that will test their skills in the Open Space through this weekend at the Ultimate Air Dogs dock jumping competition.
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Jul 11, 2008 10:21 am 1 Photo
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Carny food is a guilty pleasure

There's something really wrong -- yet at the same time irresistible -- about carnival food. As the National Cherry Festival wraps up and the county fairs start to rev up, it's time to dine "carny-style." Here's a round-up of the top five foods served at local events.
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Updated Jul 11, 2008 10:11 am 2 Photos
'Cherryland' film offers glimpse of past

Lija Ditmar and her niece Bethany Giss were captivated by a recent showing of "Cherryland," a historical film about the National Cherry Festival that's showing all week at the State Theatre. "I wish I could carry a placard around so everyone would come and see it," Ditmar said.
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Jul 10, 2008 10:37 am
Would-be idols face 'loving criticism'

Kelsey King wants to try out for the American Idol television program one day. For now, she'll have to settle for the National Cherry Festival version: Cherry Idol. King was among more than 60 participants in the first Cherry Idol. Event coordinator Heather Johnson said it was the success of American Idol that prompted Cherry Idol's addition to the festival schedule.
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Jul 10, 2008 10:37 am 1 Photo
Hundreds come out for Special Kids day

Max Dingeman used to come to Fun and Games for Special Kids day as a participant. Now, Dingeman, who has Down syndrome, volunteers his time by working at the annual National Cherry Festival event. "It's really fun to interact with the kids," Dingeman, 17, said.
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Jul 10, 2008 10:37 am 3 Photos
Accidental Tourists: Summer is busiest for first-aid, emergency workers

Blisters, sunburns, slivers and scrapes -- those are the types of medical maladies that send visitors to the National Cherry Festival's first-aid tent. And, there was that one problem with the plastic top from a pop bottle.
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Jul 10, 2008 10:09 am 2 Photos
'Grandma Camp' preps ambassadors

Hannah DeBortoli and her sisters, twins Erica and Olivia, fondly recall attending Cherry Festival activities with their grandmother, but this year they are lending their hands as volunteers by serving as Junior Ambassadors.
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Jul 10, 2008 10:06 am 1 Photo
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Treece going the distance at Fest

Marissa Treece will try something new Saturday. The Notre Dame sophomore, and former Glen Lake state champion, has never run a race longer than 10K. On Saturday, though, she'll be in the Cherry Festival 15K field.
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Updated Jul 10, 2008 10:02 am 1 Photo
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Ex-TC Central star will run in 15K Saturday

A year ago, he was preparing for his fall cross country season at Central Michigan University. Now, Andrew Manning is employed at Lyle Industries in Beaverton, coming off his first marathon, and hoping to be a contender in Saturday's Cherry Festival 15K road race.
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Updated Jul 9, 2008 9:45 am