Cherry Festival Announces More 2021 Details; No Concerts, Air Show This Year

The National Cherry Festival announced more details Monday about its 2021 event, scheduled to take place July 3-10. The Bayside Music Stage concerts and annual air show - originally planned to feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds this year - have been cancelled for 2021. However, the Beer Tent, Arts & Craft Show, Old Town Car Show, Ultimate Air Dogs, Great American Duck Race, and other events will still take place. Festival organizers said a decision about fireworks and parades would be made at a future date.

National Cherry Festival staff and volunteers are working to "plan a safe cherry celebration to give everyone something to celebrate," according to a festival release. “We recognize that not everyone is ready to gather in crowds yet, so we will be hosting in-person, virtual, and hybrid events to meet everyone where they are. And every in-person event will be following state and local guidelines to ensure the safety of all involved,” says NCF Executive Director Kat Paye.

The Porch Parade, a popular 2020 pivot in which residents decorated their homes in a cherry theme, will return again for 2021. The Arts & Crafts Fair and the Old Town Car Show will be back but relocated to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. "F&M Park will still hold kids events and everyone will still be able to see some white tents on the horizon of West Grand Traverse Bay as the Open Space will still be home base for this cherry celebration," according to the release. "Don’t forget to pick up your 2021 commemorative pin this year, either. Although 2020 pins will be honored to enter the Beer Tent, a new pin will be sold to celebrate the 95th National Cherry Festival."

A virtual GT Pie Company’s Virtual Make & Bake and fitness events such as zumba, yoga, a Cherry Pie Bike Ride, and the Meijer Festival of Races are also on the calendar. The updated Cherry Festival website also indicates the Arnold's Amusement Midway will be back.

More details about the 2021 festival are available online here.