National Cherry Festival

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE -- Over 500,000 over eight days PROGRAM -- 150 events and activities (85 percent are free) SOURCES OF INCOME -- Event Sponsors, Local Membership, ticket sales MISSION OF FESTIVAL -- The mission of the National Cherry Festival is to celebrate and promote cherries, community involvement, and the Grand Traverse region. PROMOTION Through promotional material, including regionally and nationally distributed brochures; news releases; feature stories in national media; National Cherry Queen tours and appearances; interchange with other major festivals in the country; 60,000 Festival week programs; Midwest media blitzes; highway billboards personal presentations OPERATION OF FESTIVAL -- Minimum of 35,000 volunteer hours and 10,000 staff hours each year FESTIVAL EXPENDITURES -- Over 75 percent of dollars spent by Festival remain in the area ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS -- International Festival and Event Association; Michigan Festival and Events Association -- Mid-American Competing Band Directors Association FESTIVAL PUBLICATIONS -- "Cherry Creations -- The Ultimate Cherry Cookbook" (distributed nationally) -- "Hidden Cherries" -- Mackinaw Island Press RECOGNITION -- Top Ten Events by USA Today, 1999, 1998, 1997 -- Embassy of Michigan Tourism Award -- 1976 -- Governor's Declaration honoring the Festival's 50th anniversary -- 1976 -- Joint Resolution honoring the Festival's 50th anniversary by Michigan House and Senate -- 1976 -- Publication awards, national competition -- 1972, 1975, 1978, and 1982 -- Annually rated in top 100 Festivals and Events in North America by the A.B.A. -- Named Michigan's favorite Festival by AAA Michigan Living Magazine Page two -- Circulation: 1,000,000