Before you know it, summer will be here, and with it should come an adventurous summer vacation. Treat yourself to a wonderful summer getaway to the shores of Traverse City. Our Michigan home is the perfect place to cool off as the temps start to rise. Traverse City features plenty of different ways to celebrate your summer. This includes an incredible selection of exclusive events that take place over the summer so you and the family can have a blast. Take a look at the top summer events in Traverse City.
Top Summer 2024 Events in Traverse City, MI
There is no summer event here in Traverse City bigger than the National Cherry Festival. Traverse City is home to the best cherry orchards in the country and celebrates that with this annual event. The National Cherry Festival is no small feat but instead a week-long celebration of the community and industry found here in the city. Each year, the National Cherry Festival gets bigger and better, and the 2024 event is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The National Cherry Festival features over 150 different events all throughout the week, with around 85% of them free for kids to enjoy.
The Opening Ceremony will start off the fun for the week with a message from the National Cherry Queen herself. Other prominent figures from the Grand Traverse Region will also be on hand to help with the festivities. The rest of the week is a rollercoaster of fun and exciting events for the whole family. This includes an air show with the United State Navy Blue Angels, cherry pit spit content, classic car show, cherry pie eating contest, orchard tours, and much more. Many of the events will take place multiple times to ensure everyone can enjoy them at some point in the event. Some events that are new for the 2024 festival include beach volleyball tournaments with multiple options for teams.
We hope you love live entertainment, because the concert schedule for the National Cherry Festival is sure to be great. This year’s artists include the Goo Goo Dolls, Dylan Scott, and Gabriel Iglesias Live. Each performance will be held at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage with tickets needed to be purchased.
The National Cherry Festival takes place over the Fourth of July, so you can expect a patriotic parade on the holiday itself. This year’s National Cherry Festival will take place from June 29th through July 6th for a whole week of fun and excitement. Come see Traverse City’s biggest event of the year!
Tour de TART
Traverse City is also home to various other events in the area too. Tour de TART is a local bike ride event taking place in later in July. This event takes place on July 19th for a 17-mile bike ride starting from Darrow Park before ending at North Park. Along the way riders will be able to enjoy two food stops before ending their ride with a bayside meal. This family friendly event is perfect for those wanting to enjoy an outdoor activity together while feeling like a local. Adults will be able to order a glass of local wine or craft beer from the cash bar. All bikes will be transported back to Traverse City so you do not have to bike all 17 miles back to your vacation rental. Traverse City features several bike shops in the area where you can enjoy rental bikes to help you participate in this exciting event. Registration is required in advance and on sale now!
42nd Annual Cedar Polka Festival
Our neighbors over in Cedar will be hosting their 42nd Annual Cedar Polka Festival that celebrates all things Polish. This festival brings in 10,000 visitors each year to participate in the four days of events and activities that highlight the rich Polish history in the area. Live Polka music will be on hand each day from the best Polka bands around the country. Of course, you cannot have a Polish festival without indulging yourself with delicious food and drink. Vendors will be on hand selling delicious Polish food along with hot dogs, ribs, popcorn, and much more. The Cedar Polka Festival is one of the largest Polka celebrations in the country and has become a mainstay in the area since its inauguration. Don’t miss out on this year’s 42nd Annual Cedar Polka Festival!
Get Ready for Traverse City This Summer
Make sure to book the best stay in town by reserving one of our vacation rentals here in the area. Our properties feature the finest amenities and plenty of space for you and your family. Contact us to book your favorite property today and get ready for the ideal Traverse City getaway! Search our rentals by bedroom here.
