Traverse City Tourism announced more details Monday on its inaugural Traverse City Food & Wine event in August, including appearances by Food Network star Tyler Florence and other notable chefs and multiple dinners, culinary tours, and other experiences planned across the four-day festival.

As first reported in The Ticker, Traverse City Tourism is preparing to launch a new event intended to show off the region’s agricultural and culinary industries and to help fill a late-summer hole left by the departure of the Traverse City Film Festival. The organization announced Monday that festival dates will be August 20-24 - slightly longer than the August 21-23 dates initially listed on local permit applications - and will feature "guests chefs, cooking classes and demonstrations, wine tastings, and intimate dining experiences" at more than 20 locations across the region.
 
Tyler Florence, a 29-year veteran of Food Network, will headline the event. Florence became a household name through a variety of cooking programs on the network. A two-time James Beard Award nominee, Florence has authored numerous books and owns highly acclaimed restaurants in San Francisco. Florence also worked briefly at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in his early career before joining the Food Network.
 
Several other notable chefs will travel to town to participate in the event. The chefs include Mei Lin - a Top Chef winner, Food Network and Dearborn native - who is currently serving as chef for Pure Michigan. Others in the talent lineup include Traverse City newcomers Sarah Welch and Cameron Rolka, who spearheaded the Marrow and Mink restaurants in Detroit and are opening a Traverse City restaurant in 2026; Ji Hye Kim, of Miss Kim’s in Ann Arbor; Kate Williams, of Lady of the House in Detroit; Omar Anani of Saffron De Twah in Detroit, Celina Tio of Belfry in Kansas City, Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson of Traverse City’s The Cooks' House, and Abra Berens of Granor Farm in Three Oaks, Michigan.

"Traverse City’s culinary community will also be well represented with participation from the cooks' house, Artisan, Nobo Riverside, Reflect Bistro, Aerie, Bistro Polaris, The Good Bowl, Chateau Chantal, and numerous other dining partners," according to Traverse City Tourism. Over 30 events are scheduled during the festival, with more being added. The event will kick off with an opening party at Delamar on Wednesday, August 20. Other activities include:

> The Grand Tasting, the main festival event taking place at the Open Space on Saturday, August 23 from noon until 4pm featuring small plate tastings from local and guest chefs, tastings of over 100 local wines and other craft beverages, cooking demonstrations, and interviews with acclaimed chefs
> Four-course tasting dinner with Tyler Florence – Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
> Winery estate dinners and a winery-hosted summer cookout – Various locations
> National Writers Series-hosted conversations
> A 5k Run/Walk through the vines on the Leelanau Peninsula
> Educational tastings with food and wine pairings – Various locations
> Food & Wine Sails on the Bay – Wind Dancer and Nauticat
> Farm and winery tours – Various locations
> Cooking demonstrations at the Traverse City Farmer’s Market
> Sunday brunches, lunches, and progressive tastings – Various locations
 
A schedule of events is available online. Event tickets will go on sale later this month, according to Traverse City Tourism.