Visitor Information

• Facts about the National Cherry Festival
  
• Entertainment Benefits
  
• Community Benefits
  
• Economic Benefits

Facts About The National Cherry Festival

FIRST FESTIVAL
-- was held in 1926

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE
-- over 500,000 over eight days

FINANCIAL IMPACT
-- on area -- (conservative figure based on nationally accepted formula) $26,000,000 new dollars each year

PROGRAM
-- 150 events and activities (85 percent are free)

SOURCES OF INCOME
-- Event Sponsors, Local Membership, ticket sales

MISSION OF FESTIVAL
-- The mission of the National Cherry Festival is to celebrate cherries, tourism and community involvement.

PROMOTION
-- through promotional material, including regionally and nationally distributed brochures; news releases; feature stories in national media; National Cherry Queen tours and appearances; interchange with other major festivals in the country; 60,000 Festival week programs; Midwest media blitzes; highway billboards personal presentations

OPERATION OF FESTIVAL
-- minimum of 35,000 volunteer hours and 10,000 staff hours each year

FESTIVAL EXPENDITURES
-- over 75 percent of dollars spent by Festival remain in the area

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
-- International Festival and Event Association; Michigan Festival and Events Association

-- Mid-American Competing Band Directors Association

FESTIVAL PUBLICATIONS
-- "Cherry Creations -- The Ultimate Cherry Cookbook" (distributed nationally)

-- "Hidden Cherries" -- Mackinaw Island Press

RECOGNITION
-- Top Ten Events by USA Today, 1999, 1998, 1997
-- Embassy of Michigan Tourism Award -- 1976
Governor's Declaration honoring the Festival's 50th anniversary -- 1976
Joint Resolution honoring the Festival's 50th anniversary by Michigan House and Senate -- 1976
Publication awards, national competition -- 1972, 1975, 1978, and 1982
Annually rated in top 100 Festivals and Events in North America by the A.B.A.
Named Michigan's favorite Festival by AAA Michigan Living Magazine Page two -- Circulation: 1,000,000

SPECIAL GUESTS & DIGNITARIES

Miss America, Kirsten Haglund -- 2008

Dallas Drake, Detroit Red Wings -- 2008

Carter Oosterhouse - HGTV & TLC -- 2007

NASA Astronaut, Jerry Linenger-- 2003
Governor, Jennifer Granholm -- 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
Bryan McElwain, NY Firefighter Co. Engine #201 -- 2002
Paris Children's Choir-- 2000
Leave it to Beaver's Jerry Mathers -- 1998
Beverly Hillbillies, Donna Douglas -- 1998
Good Morning America Weatherman, Spencer Christian -- 1989, 1993, 1998
U.S. Navy Blue Angels -- 1988, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008
Stanley Cup Goalie, Detroit Red Wing Kevin Hodson -- 1997
Brigadier General ,George K. Anderson -- 1992
Phoenix Suns Dan Majerle -- 1991
PGA Touring Professional Dan Pohl -- 1989
Former Astronaut James Lovell -- 1985
From Disney World, Orlando FL:
Goofy -- 1987
Minnie Mouse -- 1986
Donald Duck -- 1985
Mickey Mouse -- 1984
Budweiser Clydesdales -- 1984, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003
Today Show Weatherman Willard Scott -- 1983
Hockey great Gordie Howe -- 1982
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds -- 1978, 1990
Bob Hope -- 1978
President Gerald R. Ford -- 1975

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Entertainment Benefits

Kids
-- Free events for kids
-- cherry pie eating, turtle races, pet show, sand sculpture, junior arts/crafts, midway, prince/princess program, and kids parade

Special Kids
-- Only event like it in the Midwest
-- provides mentally and physically challenged kids all types of activities. Past activities include: elephant Laura rides, carnival midway, "fun and games" program in the Open Space Park

Seniors
-- Lots of activities for seniors
-- golf, shuffleboard, bowling, Euchre

Families
-- Open Space Park: entertainment stage, Cherry Farm Market, air shows, food and beverage, souvenirs, fireworks
-- Downtown: Junior Royale and Cherry Royale Parades, Cherries Grand Buffet
-- Other: Family Car and Truck Show

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Community Benefits

Community pride
-- A tradition of festival
-- encourages people to stay involved in the community
-- nearly 1,000 proud volunteers in the Ambassador Program

Promotion of the cherry industry
-- Cherries D'Vine, Industry Day, Cherries Grand Buffet, Cherry Queen visits, Cherry Farm Market, Grand Traverse Heritage Center Exhibit, Cherry Pie for the Michigan State Senate, M.D.O.T. Highway Rest Area Welcome

Contribution to arts/culture
-- Arts and Crafts Fair, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, Wine Tasting, and other music performances at Open Space Park

Community Share Program
-- Contributes to over 60 charitable and civic organizations
(e.g. Hockey Boosters, Kiwanis, Church organizations, etc)
-- total cash donations over $20,000 annually in exchange for staffing Festival activities

NMC Scholarship Program
-- Provides a $2,500 scholarship to NMC culinary arts students

Commemorative Pin Sales Program
-- Provides area organizations nearly $10,000 through pin sales

Donation to TBA
-- Handicap equipment from Special Kids Program

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Economic Benefits

Adds $26 million dollars to the region's economy annually

Creates hundreds of full time jobs within the hospitality industry

National Cherry Festival spends over $1,000,000 annually with local vendors from paper supply companies to insurance companies to porta-jons, etc.

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