TRAVERSE CITY -- It's the oldest, biggest celebration in northern Michigan, the National Cherry Festival, and after 86 years it's still the champion. The signature event kicked off Saturday in Traverse City and will draw crowds of more than 500,000 people from around the country.
Day one of the eight-day extravaganza started off with a tasty pancake breakfast. The pancake breakfast has been a traditional start to Cherry Fest for several years. Folks enjoyed a hearty breakfast of pancakes topped with cherries, sausage and coffee.
Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit not only the Cherry Festival Foundation but also the Northwestern Michigan College School of Aviation.
After the stomachs were full, it was time to explore and check out all the adventures the festival has to offer this week. And for many families that meant spending the afternoon at the Arnold Amusements Midway, which is packed with carnival rides, guilty pleasure foods and plenty of games! The midway is located on the corner of Grandview Parkway and Union Street. Ticket prices are $1.25 and each ride takes about 3 to 4 tickets.
Another big highlight of day one of the Cherry Festival was one of the events most popular attractions -- the air show. This year the National Cherry Festival Air Show is featuring the Black Diamond Jet Team, Team RV, the US Coast Guard and several other single military acts.
A huge crowd of spectators lined up along West grand traverse bay to see these impressive pilots perform their "jaw-dropping" maneuvers. The air show will continue Sunday at 12:45pm.
