In spite of new city event restrictions that are causing some festivals to relocate outside of downtown, local event organizers say they're looking forward to a superb 2014 season – and they're giving Ticker readers a sneak preview of their summer plans.

Epicurean festival Taste of Traverse City, helmed by event planner Carol Lewis, is moving dates and venues this year after an inaugural launch in the Open Space in September 2013. The festival will now take place over Labor Day weekend, August 29-31, with the main event scheduled for Saturday at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. The city's recent limiting of high-impact events to one per month (the Schooner Festival is also held in September) meant Lewis had to either move the festival to June – when several other wine and food events are scheduled – or change venues.

“We decided Labor Day weekend is a great fit because visitors are already here and looking for things to do,” says Lewis. “And it's a weekend all about cooking, eating, drinking and spending time together.” The festival will offer family-friendly activities, cooking demos and special events both inside and outside the Resort this year, as well as live music, food/beverage samples and a new kids culinary zone.

The festival's Downtown Grub Crawl and Best of the Brunch events will return, while celebrity guest and former White House executive chef Walter Scheib will host a White House-themed reception and dinner at the Resort Saturday night. Tickets for Taste of Traverse City go on sale at the end of April, with early bird discounts available.

National Cherry Festival (NCF) organizers are also planning to ramp up holiday celebrations this summer with the introduction of several new events. The 88 year-old festival – which received permission from city commissioners to open a day early and operate on the Fourth of July – will host a Great American Picnic at the Hagerty Center the afternoon of the national holiday. The event will feature picnic fare, live music, face painting and other activities, plus a practice show by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

The festival will also utilize the Hagerty Center on Saturday, July 5 for its inaugural Blues, Brews and BBQ. The special viewing party for the Blue Angels' first official festival outing will include a BBQ spread along with Michigan microbrews and hard ciders. NCF Media & Marketing Director Susan Wilcox Olson says she anticipates a strong response to both events, noting there is “pent-up demand because of not having the Blue Angels here for four years.”

The Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) plans some new twists this year when it returns July 29-August 3. 2014 marks the event's tenth anniversary, and to celebrate organizers are promising more “film legends, more surprises, and most importantly, more great movies than ever before,” according to TCFF Executive Director Deb Lake.

Lake revealed one special new opportunity for movie lovers already confirmed for this summer: film screenings on a boat on the bay. While additional details will be announced in the coming weeks, Lake says festival attendees will be able to “set sail into the sunset to enjoy a great film in a simply unparalleled setting.”

“We've already brought you movies by the bay – now you can experience movies literally on the bay,” Lake says. “(It's) just one of the many unique ways we will be celebrating the festival's legacy and the incredible TC community that makes it all possible.”

Here are some other key dates to add to your festival calendar this summer:

Traverse City Summer Concert Series  – The lineup of Northwestern Michigan Fairground performances includes Bret Michaels (June 26), The Guess Who/Starship (July 24) and Eddie Money/Night Ranger (August 14).

Traverse City Wine & Art Festival  – The annual sellout celebration of regional wine, food and art returns to the Village at Grand Traverse Commons June 21.

Horse Shows by the Bay  – One of the nation's premier equestrian events takes place in Traverse City's backyard July 2-27 at FlintFields. Spectators welcome during key weekend competitions.

2014 Interlochen Arts Festival, celebrating 50 years this summer of concerts on the Arts Academy campus. The 2014 lineup will be announced in days, with tickets on sale April 18.

Tent Venue/Porterhouse Productions – Tent Venue hosts Traverse Symphony Orchestra at the Village on July 19 and Lyle Lovett at FlintFields on August 8. The TC Summer Microbrew & Music Festival returns to the Village August 23-24.