Traverse City Record-Eagle

2011 Cherry Festival

Related Photos

  • Shannon LaClair, of Breckenridge, and her nephew, Braxton LaClair, 5, of Traverse City, watch the National Cherry Festival Air Show on Saturday. Record-Eagle/Keith King

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  • Members of the United States Coast Guard Airstation Traverse City perform a demonstration over West Grand Traverse Bay as part of the air show. Record-Eagle/Keith King

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  • Cherries from Edmondson Orchards are sold near the Open Space during the opening day of the Cherry Festival. Record-Eagle/Keith King

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July 3, 2011

Cherry Fest kicks off 2011 edition

BY JAMES RUSSELL jrussell@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Bob and Heather Benson didn't know what they were getting into.

The couple from Dexter are newcomers to Michigan, so they hit the road last week to learn more about the state. They rolled into Traverse City on Friday and received a quick education on northern Michigan; unbeknownst to them, the National Cherry Festival was right on their tail. They said it was a pleasant surprise.

"I was wondering why the hotel was so expensive," Bob said as they waited for Saturday's air show along the pier at Clinch Marina.

"It's great out here," said Heather. "There's a breeze off the water, and you can still hear the music, hang out and relax."

The Bensons were among thousands who turned out Saturday for first-day festivities, which included an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and an air show over West Bay.

"I love the food," said Ava Bartz, 5, as she chowed down on a big stack of pancakes Saturday morning. She optimistically planned to take advantage of the all-you-can-eat deal and gobble down 10 pancakes.

"She's counting," said her neighbor Steve Christensen, who also was partaking in the breakfast with his daughters Shelby and Lynnae. The teenage girls love the Cherry Festival, but for different reasons.

"I like the air show because my sister hates it," said Lynnae. Shelby said she can't take the loud noise, but was going to stick it out for Saturday's show.

"I usually go to Elk Rapids during the air show, but since it's not the Blue Angels this year, I'm going to stick around," Shelby said.

The pancake breakfast kicked off the eight-day festival on Saturday, and organizers said the inaugural event was a big success. Dave Skibowski, a former Cherry Festival president, said they served more than 8,000 pancakes and made 70 pots of coffee. Turnout was expected to top 1,500.

"I would have been happy with 400 or 500," he said. "We reached that by 9 a.m."

Food is a big draw for many festival-goers. Sisters Renee and Theresa White, of Plymouth, enjoy walking the booths and sampling what's offered.

"I love trying all the different cherry things," Theresa said as she shared a heaping slice of cherry pie with Renee.

"We love the cherry dog treats," Renee said. "Too bad we don't have a dog. If they had cherry cat treats, we would have bought that."

Jessie Borucki tended the Edmondson Orchards booth, home of the cherry dog biscuits. She said they were a huge hit last year so they decided to bring them back, along with cherry juice, cherry nuggets and cherry freezes.

"The dogs I've seen eat them gobble them down," she said.

Borucki said business was brisk on the festival's first day, even though the cherries for sale didn't come from local orchards.

"They are from Michigan, but from Grand Rapids," she said. "That's as local as we could get them."

Crowds flocked to the shoreline as the air show kicked off at 1 p.m. with a rescue demonstration by the Coast Guard. The Heavy Metal Jet Team, Team RV and North East Raiders followed with some tricky maneuvers over the bay.

Suzie Laramie, of Riverview, and Eric Steinhauer staked out a spot on the rocks to take in the show. It was Suzie's first Cherry Festival, but Eric is a veteran. He has family in the region, so he's been coming since the '60s.

"There are a lot of changes — it's a lot bigger," he said. "But it's great. It's fun, family-friendly and enjoyable."

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Special to the Record-Eagle/Susan Melton
A National Cherry Festival goer hits new heights at the Open Space.

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