National Cherry Festival
9 a.m.
Very Cherry Distinguished Senior Breakfast
Sponsored by Traverse City Light & Power and Traverse City Record-Eagle
Great company, great breakfast. Announcement of the 2008 Distinguished Senior. $3 at the door.
Elks Lodge, 625 Bay St.
10 a.m.-noon
Bubble Gum Blow
Sponsored by Big Boy Restaurants and Fox 33
Children, come and compete against others your age to blow the biggest bubble you can. Prizes for everyone! Registration is from 9:30 to 10 a.m. for ages 4 to 12. Free.
F&M Park at Railroad and Washington streets
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cherry Connection: Bringing Together Festival, Farm & Fruit
Sponsored by Michigan Cherry Committee
The National Cherry Festival and Michigan State University Extension invite you to 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 the Michigan State University Extension. In addition to the guided orchard tours, there are exhibits and samples of the newest cherry products and technology inside the station. There is all sorts of "cherry" fun for the kids, including a petting zoo, hands-on experiments, kids poster coloring contest and many other activities.
BATA shuttles will pick up by the Traverse City Visitor's Center on Garland Street. Look for the Cherry Connection shuttle sign. The bus is scheduled to leave every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to noon and makes return trips.
Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station
10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Festival Open Space Park
Enjoy the Johnsonville Brat Tent, Country Fresh Ice Cream and Sara Lee Bakery Cherry Pie booth, Pepsi products, AAA Michigan's Welcome Center and the Cherry Farm Market Tent, as well as live entertainment and Festival souvenirs.
The 9&10 News/WTCM Festival Marketplace offers promotional displays and samplings from Festival sponsoring companies, including Kitchen Craft International, Toyota and AAA Motor Sports.
Other on-site promotional partners include Grand Bay Marine, Crownline Boats, Grand Bay Golf Cars, Basic Communications, Verizon Wireless, AT&T Yellow Pages, Wireless Zone, Clif Bar, Sony Playstation, Indy 500, Alltel, Walk-In-Tubs, Grand Traverse Pie Co., Charter and the U.S. Navy.
Stop by the Festival's first aid facility, sponsored by Munson Medical Center and North Flight EMS Paramedic services, or register your 2008 Commemorative Gold Pins and Second Chance Drawing cards, plus check for lost items, friends, family or messages at the Festival Welcome Center, sponsored by AAA Michigan. Each day, entertainment passes and event tickets will be available at the Welcome Center.
Festival Open Space at Grandview Parkway and Union Street
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Health Day
Sponsored by Together Rx Access
Kicking off the week of Festival Open Space Celebrations — one with a community flair — is Health by the Bay, beginning at 10 a.m. Give blood, check your blood pressure, listen to local doctors give informational lectures and much more. Festivalgoers of all ages will find healthful information here.
Festival Open Space at Grandview Parkway and Union streets
11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Arnold Amusements Midway
Visit Traverse City's own favorite amusements near the Festival Open Space.
11 a.m.-noon
Kids' "Make, Bake & Take" Pies
Presented by Grand Traverse Pie Co.
Space is limited. First come, first to enjoy!
Grand Traverse Pie Co. Open Space booth.
11 a.m.
Cherry Classic Film Festival
Sponsored by Traverse City Light & Power and Traverse City Record-Eagle in cooperation with Grand Traverse Heritage Center and Traverse City Film Festival.
Join us for "Road to Rio," a 1947 comedy film starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. Free.
State Theatre, 233 E. Front St., Traverse City
11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Million Dollar Hole-in-One Contest
Sponsored by Chase; hosted by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Golfers should hone their golf skills in preparation for the National Cherry Festival's week long Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest hosted by Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, 100 Grand Traverse Village Boulevard, Acme
Noon-4 p.m.
Bingo
One of America's great pastimes features cash prizes.
Open Space Park East at the corner of Grandview Parkway and Marina Drive
1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Cherry Pins & Pizza
Sponsored by Traverse City Light & Power and Traverse City Record-Eagle
Fun, family and friends! Stop in for a fun-filled afternoon of bowling. Fee required.
Timber Lanes Bowling Center on Garfield Avenue near South Airport Road. From the Festival Open Space Park, follow Grandview Parkway east to Garfield Avenue. Turn right, take Garfield Avenue south. Turn left at designated signage.
1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Kiteboarding Demonstration on West Grand Traverse Bay
See regional professionals Matt and Keegan Myers of Broneah demonstrate the wave to come on wake and surf boards. Learn through interactive displays and on-water demonstrations.
West End Beach Volleyball Courts
1 p.m.
Turtle Races
Sponsored by Big Boy Restaurants and Fox 33
A competitive event for all children to race their turtles. Bring your own special turtle or borrow one of ours to compete in the race. Registration from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Free.
F&M Park at Railroad and Washington streets
3 p.m.-4 p.m.
Kids' "Make, Bake & Take" Pies
Presented by Grand Traverse Pie Co.
Space is limited. First come, first to enjoy!
Grand Traverse Pie Co. Open Space booth.
3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Sara Lee Bakery Kid's Cherry Pie Eating Contest
An invitation to all children 3 to 12 to come eat cherry pie. The competition is judged by seeing who eats their pie the quickest in each age group. Free.
F&M Park at Railroad and Washington streets
4 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
'Cherryland' Historical Film
Presented by Traverse City Record-Eagle, Grand Traverse Heritage Center and the Traverse City Film Festival
"Cherryland" explores the path of the National Cherry Festival, from its beginnings as a religious ceremony to its heyday during the Depression, when it manipulated the media and thrust itself into the nation's limelight. It is the story of a town that was geographically isolated, depleted of its primary natural resource yet believed that a Festival could turn the town around and bring prosperity. It is also a story of a community that made tremendous sacrifices to make its town attractive and hospitable to outsiders. Free.
State Theatre, 233 E. Front St., Traverse City
4 p.m.
Teen Golf Outing
Sponsored by Mountain Dew cooperation with WKHQ Radio
A golf outing at Bay Meadows. Four-person golf scramble is $15 per person for nine holes, dinner (hot dog, chips and Pepsi) and prizes.
Limited to the first 18 teams. Tee-off is at 4 p.m. with dinner and awards to follow at the clubhouse. Cart and club rental is available through Bay Meadows Golf Course. To sign up or for more information, call the Cherry Festival at 947-4230.
Bay Meadows Golf Course, 5550 Bay Meadows Drive, Traverse City
4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
Cherryopoly Tournament
Open to the first 36 players. Winners from Monday and Wednesday will return on Friday, July 11, for an overall Cherryopoly Tournament championship. Applications available at the National Cherry Festival office or by calling (800) 968-3380 or 947-4230.
Festival Open Space Park at Grandview Parkway and Marina Drive
5 p.m.-6 p.m.
Sara Lee Bakery Adult Cherry Pie Eating
Feel like a kid again and dive into a slice of cherry pie! The first one to finish their slice wins! Prizes awarded. Free.
Festival Open Space at Grandview Parkway and Union Street
6 p.m.-10 p.m
Bingo
One of America's great pastimes features cash prizes.
Open Space Park East at the corner of Grandview Parkway and Marina Drive
6 p.m.-7 p.m.
Cherry Pit Spit Contest
In cooperation with 95.5 FM — The Zone
The tradition of the Cherry Pit Spit Contest continues! Join the fun and win daily prizes of award-winning cherry product selections and more. Daily finalists are asked to return at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12, for the final Pit Spit-Off. Register on-site. Free.
Festival Open Space at Grandview Parkway and Union Street
6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Dancin' at the Dome
In cooperation with Lite 96 Radio
The National Cherry Festival helps the historic Park Place Hotel and Sol de Luna Music kick off a monthly "Dancin' at the Dome" event. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and include dance instruction and live music. Purchase tickets online or at the National Cherry Festival office by calling (800) 968-3380.
Park Place Hotel, 300 E. State St., Traverse City
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