Frustration! - Photo

Out of frustration Rani Asava, 2, simply pours her bubble blowing soap onto the ground before the start of the Touchstone Energy Royale Junior Parade. It was her answer to being unsuccessful at blowing bubbles.
Traverse City, Mich. - 07/0702005 - With a look of frustration on her face, Rani Asava, 2, tries to blow a bubble with results that are below what she hoped to achieve while waiting for the start of the Touchstone Energy Royale Junior Parade.

Street Performer - Photo

Traverse City, Mich. - 07/08/2005 - Street performer Caleb Williams plays a cajone drum on Union Street in Traverse City, Mich., during the National Cherry Festival. This was Williams first time to do street performances, and was trying to earn money for his tuition at Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Parades and Parades - Photo

American flags were given away at the beginning of the Touchstone Energy Royale Junior Parade. The flags were supplied by Touchstone Energy.
Traverse City, Mich. - 07/07/2005 - The Marching Band from Lutheran VanGuard in Appleton, Wis., turns the corner at Front and Union Streets during the Touchstone Energy Junior Royale Parade Thursday evening.

Stomp Off - Photo

Traverse City, Mich. - 07/06/2005 - Henry Parvel, 3, right stomps on a soda bottle to launch a paper rocket that is being held by his father Andrew Parvel. The stomping rockets project was just one on many activities for children at F&M Park for the Cherry Town Fun Night for kids and was part of the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Mich., Wednesday, July 06, 2005.

Captain Safety - Photo

Traverse City, Mich. - 07/05/2005 - The AAA balloon Captain Safety floats its way down Front Street in Traverse City, during the AAA Michigan Heritage Parade Tuesday, July 5, 2005. The parade was part of the National Cherry Festival.

Soaring With Eagles - Photo Package

Soaring With Eagles Photo Package Published July 4, 2005

What Is The National Cherry Festival?

Northwestern Michigan's 300-plus cherry farms produce about 80 percent of world's tart cherry crop. To celebrate the harvest, Traverse City turns as American as cherry pie for the Fourth of July weekend as the city hosts its 79th National Cherry Festival with over 150 events, including free air shows over the Bay, colorful parades, music shows, sporting events, marching bands, rides on the midway, pie-eating contests, clean blue skies, warm sunshine, crowds of smiling faces, and loads of luscious cherries prepared every way you can imagine!

For the photo staff at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, it is our busiest time and most challenging time of the year. During 8 day summer festival we will cover more than 150 events including air shows, cherry pit spitting contest, car shows, cherry pie eating contests, art and craft shows and much more.

National Cherry Festival Day 2 - Photo

(Right) While other children took part in activities for the kids at the National Cherry Festival, Houashee Thad, 4, and Mengpa Thad, 6, take a nap while their mother, Mao Thao, does business running her both during the Arts and Craft Show on Union Street in Traverse City Sunday afternoon, July 3, 2005.

(Left) Rebeca Erdman,8, from Dexter, Mich., takes a ride on the Quad Power Jumper during the National Cherry Festival.
Traverse City, Mich. - 07/03/2005 - Anna Wheatley looks in a mirror to see the painted horse on her face at the Kids Art and Craft Show at F&M Park in Traverse City. The show was just one of many activities for kids during the National Cherry Festival.