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The Midway, Cherry Festival
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FESTIVALS Celebrate the emerging grape and cherry harvests at Blossom Day, May 13. Taste new releases paired with seasonal foods at Old Mission Peninsula wineries. wineriesofoldmission.com. MyNorthTickets.com.
TAYLOR BROWN
Regional wine, food and culture entertain at the Northern Michigan Winefest, June 24 (formerly Traverse City Wine & Art Festival) on the grounds at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Sample more than 100 wines, taste local food, enjoy live entertainment and view the John Robert Williams Wine Country Photography Project. 3 to 9 p.m. The United States Air Force Thunderbirds take to the skies above Traverse City to entertain at the National Cherry Festival, July 1–8. This stellar event draws more than a halfmillion people to the downtown Traverse City waterfront to celebrate the region’s favorite fruit (Michigan, and specifically
this area, grows nearly 75 percent of the nation’s tart cherries). Other highlights include cherry pie–eating and pit-spitting contests, a giant county-fair-style midway, a parade nearly every day, a Cherry Queen pageant, fireworks, and don’t miss truTv’s Impractical Jokers Starring the Tenderloins on Friday, July 7. 231.947.4230, cherryfestival.org. Experience the thrill of real-deal equestrian competition at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, July 5–9, July 12–30, August 2–13, just minutes from downtown Traverse City. Thousands of the nation’s best horses and riders show their stuff in show-jumping and dressage events. Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. greatlakesequestrianfestival.com. MyNorthTickets.com.
MyNorth 2017 Vacation Guide
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