The National Cherry Festival is an annual food festival in Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City has been nicknamed the "Cherry Capital of the World", as the Grand Traverse Bay region is a cherry growing hotspot. The festival, which was established in 1925 as the Blessing of the Blossoms Festival, was renamed to the National Cherry Festival in 1931, and has been held each year since.
National Cherry Festival parade on East Front Street in 2012
Tart (left) and sweet (right) cherries grown in Acme Township, just east of Traverse City.
The Blue Angels performing over West Grand Traverse Bay in 2010. Each festival features an air show, rotating each year between the Blue Angels and USAF Thunderbirds.
A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy drupe.
Prunus avium, sweet cherry (a true cherry species)
Prunus cerasus, sour cherry (a true cherry species)
Germersdorfer variety cherry tree in blossom