The Festival Foundation

Mission: To celebrate and promote cherries, community involvement and the Grand Traverse region.

Founded by growers in 1926, the Festival Foundation organizes the Grand Traverse region’s premiere community festivals. Preserving traditions with that cherry on top is the one thing our events have in common. Whether they are the main attraction, the sweet taste of victory at the finish line or the glowing light beginning each new year, supporting our local cherry economy is the heart of what we do.

At the Festival Foundation, we celebrate and promote cherries to those who don’t get to experience them from their backyard. We do it by giving people experiences that they will not forget. So when they think back to their first taste of cherries, they remember Michigan cherries first. Because everyone has that one moment they remember for the rest of their lives…a memory that they build from to create a lasting tradition. We pledge to help you create those memories and preserve your tradition, starting and ending with cherries. In short, our story is making a special chapters in yours.

The Festival Foundation events include the National Cherry Festival, the CherryT Ball Drop, Leapin’ Leprechaun, and the Iceman Cometh Challenge.