Cherry Festival kicks off with a roar

Archive: Sunday

Related Photos

Spectators look to the sky Saturday during the National Cherry Festival Air Show. Record-Eagle/Keith King
Participants pedal toward the finish line Saturday during the National Cherry Festival Kids' Big Wheel Race at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center. Record-Eagle/Keith King

July 8, 2012

Cherry Festival kicks off with a roar

Thousands turn out to recall the past, create new memories for their children

BY JAMES RUSSELL jrussell@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Sun Jul 08, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Matt May knows memories from the National Cherry Festival last a lifetime.

The Traverse City man fondly recalled participating in cherry-pie eating contests and turtle races as a kid — "good times, good memories," he said.

Now he hopes to create some new memories with his son, Charlie.

The pair spent Saturday morning at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center for the annual big-wheel races, one of the first events to kick off the eight-day festival.

"My boy's 4, and you're only 4 once. You've got to do the big-wheel race," May said.

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

Total numbers weren't ready yet for the pancake breakfast, but former Cherry Festival President Denny Braun said they went through 12 cases of pancake batter and 25 cases of sausage links serving "a couple thousand" people. It's the second year for the popular event.

"All the proceeds go to the Cherry Festival Foundation to make sure it has an opportunity to give back to community," Braun said.

As the breakfast diners packed up, the transient pancake house transformed into the beer tent, back for a second year at the popular spot on the north end of the Open Space. This year, imbibers will need to buy a $3 pin to get into the hot-spot.

Longtime pin-seller Peter Garthe said the change is helping his numbers this year.

"It's good this year. Real good. Up from last year," he said. "I started selling on May 29, and I had a pre-sales record of 1,870 pins."

His numbers had soared 1,979 by 11:30 a.m., but Garthe wasn't sure if he was going to break his record of 7,292 pins.

"I don't know, it's a long shot," he said.

To the west of the Open Space, players and spectators gathered to watch the two-person beach volleyball tournament. The competition on the sand courts by the bay was Erin Crowell's fifth.

"We usually have really good weather, and today's beautiful. It's a nice break from the 100-degree weather we had," the Traverse City woman said from the sidelines.

Crowell played volleyball in high school, and she likes having a chance to hone her skills on a softer surface.

"The sand's really easy on your joints, so you can keep playing until you're like 80," she said.

Several people staked out prime viewing spots for the air show, which kicked off around 1 p.m. over West Bay. Chris and Sonny Wechsler, of Beverly Hills, Mich., found an ideal location along the water.

"This is our second time coming to the Cherry Festival," Chris Wechsler said. "We love it, but we've never seen the air show before."

For kids, the games and rides at the midway are the highlight of the festival. Families crowded the attractions moments after the gates opened at 11 a.m.

Kara Hecht, 7, said "the swings" are her favorite, but she can't talk her mother Kerensa to join her on the dizzying ride. The Frankenmuth family is camping at the state park during their trip up north.

"We love it here," Kerensa said.

For locals, children make a big difference during Cherry Festival week, said Jamie LaFaive, of Traverse City, as she waited for her kids to race in the big-wheel competition — a family tradition.

"It's fun for the kids. They love the festival," she said. "They get very excited, and save their money for the rides. We love the kids' parade on Thursday, and we've done the turtle races and the dog show where the dogs jump."

Matt and Charlie May plan to try the sand castle competition and the carnival rides this week.

"Charlie, he's only going to be a little kid for a little while. So we want to take advantage and have as much fun as he can while we can," May said.