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  • Service members carry the American Flag down Front Street during the Cherry Royale Parade. Record-Eagle/Keith King

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July 11, 2010

Large crowds mark this year's Cherry Fest

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE lvanhulle@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Being a prince is a lot of work.

This week, Sonny Haworth was in two National Cherry Festival parades, rode carnival rides at the midway, ate a cherry pie without using his hands and attended a marching band competition.

"I can't remember the rest," said Sonny, 7, the festival prince from The Pathfinder School in Traverse City.

He grinned an infectious, gap-toothed smile from Pathfinder's Mackinaw City-themed float in the Cherry Royale Parade on Saturday, the festival's final day. After two parades, he perfected his wave and added a unique touch — blowing kisses to the crowd.

"But don't tell the other prince and princesses," Sonny said, serious now. "That's the secret."

The secret to a successful Cherry Festival? This year, it might be a mix of warm weather and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight team. By many accounts, crowds near downtown Traverse City have appeared larger than in prior years.

Vendors said business was steady during the eight-day event. First-time visitors said they liked its variety of activities.

Marc and Kathy Woodward drove to Traverse City from their home in Perrysburg, Ohio, near Toledo, for the festival's last day. They never had attended before.

They wandered through the Open Space on Saturday, Kathy carrying a paper bag of cherry jerky and Marc holding half a cherry chocolate-chip cookie.

"It weighs about a pound and a half," he said.

Their treats came from the Old Mission General Store food stall, where Nathan Burley was serving customers.

Business was steady, especially on sunny days, he said. It was the first time he participated in "the very heart of the Cherry Festival."

"I was told when I first moved here: 'Stay away from downtown during Cherry Festival,'" Burley said.

He did. But now he has been converted.

"I'll be down here next year," he said. "I like seeing the people."

And there were thousands of them. Mary Kate Rea couldn't believe the size of the crowds.

Rea, a California resident, studies at Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Maritime Academy. She missed last year's Cherry Festival because she was sailing.

This year, she watched fireworks over Grand Traverse Bay and the final parade from a spot on Union Street.

"I always hear that it's this big thing," Rea said. "I never knew this many people could fit in one small area."

That's what Mark Hanson looks for when he decides where to set up his pretzel cart, Why Knot.

Hanson, of Traverse City, takes the cart to target the parade crowds or spectators at fireworks shows.

He has been in business for at least 15 years and said festivals with the Blue Angels are the best ones. This year, Why Knot went through at least 100 cases of 50 pretzels each — or about 5,000 pretzels.

"It's been a great week," Hanson said. "I've never seen people tip like they've been tipping. Cheese pretzels are four bucks. They give you a five and say, 'Keep it.'"

There's no doubt about the festival's ability to generate sales, said Tom Fink, of Traverse City.

He and his wife, Debbie Hissong, rode their bicycles to Saturday's parade, watched the air show and visited the Global Wine Pavilion.

They have lived in Traverse City since 1982.

"It's important to the town," Fink said. "Tourism's good business."

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