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The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
Traverse City is a year-round destination. Between admiring the scenic overlooks and beautiful hiking trails at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, enjoying live music at Interlochen State Park’s Summer Concert Series, or soaking up the sun at one Traverse City’s many beaches, there are lots of reasons for folks to (as the locals say) “c’mon up.” And if you time your visit right, you can pair your choice of outdoor activity with one of the city’s many specialty festivals. Whether you’re an equestrian or runner, have a culinary fixation on cherries, or have a deep and abiding love for fireworks, there’s an event just for you in Traverse City this year. National Cherry Festival June 28-July 5, 2025 In 1839, a missionary planted a single cherry tree on the shores of Lake Michigan. By the turn of the 20th century, the shoreline was home to a flourishing cherry industry, earning Traverse City a reputation as the “Cherry Capital of the World.” The pinnacle of each growing season is, of course, the 8-day National Cherry Festival, now in its 99th year (June 28-July 5 this year). Visitors come from far and wide to enjoy food vendors, classic midway amusement, airshows by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, classic car cruises, a cherry pit-spitting contest, a beach volleyball tournament, and performances by the Second Time Arounders—a marching band open for anyone who can play to join. The festival’s impressive array of musical guests this year includes Weird Al, Cheap Trick, T.I., Grand Funk Railroad, Hoobastank, Bowling for Soup, and, fittingly, Buckcherry. Traverse City Food and Wine August 20-24th, 2025 It’s not all cherries and airshows. In late August, a refined five-day soiree shines a light on the region’s broader agricultural and culinary prowess for the first annual Traverse City Food and Wine. Foodies will enjoy a range of epicurean experiences, including multi-course tasting dinners with distinguished Michigan chefs, vineyard walking tours, cocktail classes, and more. Venture to scenic Black Star Farms on the Leelanau Peninsula for a farm tour and goat yoga, Chateau Chantal for a sunset jazz performance by Jeff Hass, or the Brys Estate Vineyard for a summer cookout. The event comes to a head with a grand tasting at noon on Saturday in the Open Space Park, overlooking the turquoise waters of Grand Traverse Bay, though the festivities continue throughout Sunday with more tastings and delicious dining. Traverse City Horse Shows June-September Ten miles from downtown Traverse City, Flintfields Horse Park hosts 13 weeks of show jumping competition and summer events. Enjoy shaded pavilions with bars, food trucks, a Sunday farmers market, and boutique shopping along Vendor Row. The venue features seven competition rings, including the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. All summer long, athletes compete in competitions of all levels—culminating each weekend with high-stakes jump-offs during the grand prix. The season wraps up in September with two five-star events, the Longines World Cup Qualifier and the iconic American Gold Cup, with an illustrious history spanning five decades. Note: Admission is free most weekdays, with a $15 general admission fee on ticketed days with several upgrade options available, including the VIP Club. International Fireworks Championship September 5-6, 2025 A one-of-a-kind fireworks show returns to Turtle Creek Stadium just outside Traverse City for the third iteration of this international competition. In September, teams of world-class pyrotechnicians from six countries will craft and perform firework shows synchronized to live music, with an audience-voted winner crowned each night as well as a judge’s choice award for best overall showing. This year’s competitors include teams from Canada, China, Portugal, Serbia, and Poland alongside American teams. Attendees will see the moonless Michigan sky transformed into a riot of shapes, colors, and sounds before voting on their favorite performance. If you can’t make the fireworks show, you can still stop by the stadium to see the Traverse City Pit Spitters take on regional opponents in the collegiate-level Northwoods baseball league. Pride Week September 23-27, 2025 While Traverse City’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community holds events all year long, all roads lead to Up North Pride Week, a series of events that includes the largest pride parade in Northern Michigan. The week kicks off on Tuesday the 23rd with a queer storytelling event. Then you can attend a sign-making party Wednesday night at F&M Park downtown, where visitors can prepare to make a statement at the impending parade. On Friday, a Comedy Night will be held at the historic Traverse City Opera House, a massive 700-seat theater built in 1891. The Visibility Rally & March will then take place on Saturday, starting from F&M Park at 1:00 p.m., traveling west along Front Street to the lakeside Open Space Park, where festivities and dancing will conti
Traverse City is a year-round destination. Between admiring the scenic overlooks and beautiful hiking trails at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, enjoying live music at Interlochen State Park’s Summer Concert Series, or soaking up the sun at one Traverse City’s many beaches, there are lots of reasons for folks to (as the locals say) “c’mon up.” And if you time your visit right, you can pair your choice of outdoor activity with one of the city’s many specialty festivals. Whether you’re an equestrian or runner, have a culinary fixation on cherries, or have a deep and abiding love for fireworks, there’s an event just for you in Traverse City this year.
National Cherry Festival
June 28-July 5, 2025
In 1839, a missionary planted a single cherry tree on the shores of Lake Michigan. By the turn of the 20th century, the shoreline was home to a flourishing cherry industry, earning Traverse City a reputation as the “Cherry Capital of the World.” The pinnacle of each growing season is, of course, the 8-day National Cherry Festival, now in its 99th year (June 28-July 5 this year). Visitors come from far and wide to enjoy food vendors, classic midway amusement, airshows by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, classic car cruises, a cherry pit-spitting contest, a beach volleyball tournament, and performances by the Second Time Arounders—a marching band open for anyone who can play to join. The festival’s impressive array of musical guests this year includes Weird Al, Cheap Trick, T.I., Grand Funk Railroad, Hoobastank, Bowling for Soup, and, fittingly, Buckcherry.
Traverse City Food and Wine
August 20-24th, 2025
It’s not all cherries and airshows. In late August, a refined five-day soiree shines a light on the region’s broader agricultural and culinary prowess for the first annual Traverse City Food and Wine. Foodies will enjoy a range of epicurean experiences, including multi-course tasting dinners with distinguished Michigan chefs, vineyard walking tours, cocktail classes, and more. Venture to scenic Black Star Farms on the Leelanau Peninsula for a farm tour and goat yoga, Chateau Chantal for a sunset jazz performance by Jeff Hass, or the Brys Estate Vineyard for a summer cookout. The event comes to a head with a grand tasting at noon on Saturday in the Open Space Park, overlooking the turquoise waters of Grand Traverse Bay, though the festivities continue throughout Sunday with more tastings and delicious dining.
Traverse City Horse Shows
June-September
Ten miles from downtown Traverse City, Flintfields Horse Park hosts 13 weeks of show jumping competition and summer events. Enjoy shaded pavilions with bars, food trucks, a Sunday farmers market, and boutique shopping along Vendor Row. The venue features seven competition rings, including the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. All summer long, athletes compete in competitions of all levels—culminating each weekend with high-stakes jump-offs during the grand prix. The season wraps up in September with two five-star events, the Longines World Cup Qualifier and the iconic American Gold Cup, with an illustrious history spanning five decades. Note: Admission is free most weekdays, with a $15 general admission fee on ticketed days with several upgrade options available, including the VIP Club.
International Fireworks Championship
September 5-6, 2025
A one-of-a-kind fireworks show returns to Turtle Creek Stadium just outside Traverse City for the third iteration of this international competition. In September, teams of world-class pyrotechnicians from six countries will craft and perform firework shows synchronized to live music, with an audience-voted winner crowned each night as well as a judge’s choice award for best overall showing. This year’s competitors include teams from Canada, China, Portugal, Serbia, and Poland alongside American teams. Attendees will see the moonless Michigan sky transformed into a riot of shapes, colors, and sounds before voting on their favorite performance. If you can’t make the fireworks show, you can still stop by the stadium to see the Traverse City Pit Spitters take on regional opponents in the collegiate-level Northwoods baseball league.
Pride Week
September 23-27, 2025
While Traverse City’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community holds events all year long, all roads lead to Up North Pride Week, a series of events that includes the largest pride parade in Northern Michigan. The week kicks off on Tuesday the 23rd with a queer storytelling event. Then you can attend a sign-making party Wednesday night at F&M Park downtown, where visitors can prepare to make a statement at the impending parade. On Friday, a Comedy Night will be held at the historic Traverse City Opera House, a massive 700-seat theater built in 1891. The Visibility Rally & March will then take place on Saturday, starting from F&M Park at 1:00 p.m., traveling west along Front Street to the lakeside Open Space Park, where festivities and dancing will continue into the night. Check Up North Pride’s events calendar for other game nights, art meetups, bonfires, hikes, and more taking place throughout the year.
Zombie Run
October 26, 2025
Competitors are invited to walk, run, limp, or stagger their way through Traverse City for the 16th annual Zombie 5K in October this year. While you’re free to wear whatever you please, with Halloween around the corner, costumes are more than welcome. The route starts and ends (perhaps fittingly) at Right Brain Brewery, tracking north along the Boardman Lake Trail before turning downtown, reaching the riverside Lay Park, and heading back to the brewery. Post-race events include a medal ceremony, refreshments, and costume prizes awarded to both individuals and groups. Early registration ends October 25. Runners visiting Traverse City earlier in the summer can still get a run in while enjoying stunning lake views on the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, a 4.2-mile lap around the lake.
CherryT Ball Drop
December 31, 2025
On New Year’s Eve, roughly 10,000 people will bundle up to gather at the intersection of Cass and Front Street to ring in 2026 with the dropping of an oversized, glowing cherry. Since its first iteration in 2008, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities, hence the ball’s name: “CherryT.” The family-friendly event features a live DJ with dancing in the streets while the minutes count down to midnight. The event begins at 10 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to donate $5 for entry. For those who wish to celebrate with a smaller crowd indoors, the nearby North Bar affords visitors views of the CherryT ball drop and will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Celebration with a champagne toast, coat check, photo booth, and more.
