Family games & activities, tie-dye t-shirts, crafts, train ride, bike decorating & parade, movies & popcorn.

Oldest, Biggest and Still the Champion: The National Cherry Festival. Traverse City is still proud to be America's Cherry Capital. It celebrates that heritage every year during the first week of July with an eight-day party featuring over 150 family activities: air shows, fireworks, parades (including the nation's largest all-children parade) games, races, midway rides, demonstrations, nightly outdoor concerts and lots of chances to taste delicious cherry products. Now in its 86th year, the Cherry Festival is Traverse City's signature event, drawing as many as 500,000 attendees from around the country. Everything is located conveniently within walking distance, and since almost all the events are free, it offers more than a week of affordable family fun.

This popular festival at Northport's Haserot Park features music, great food from local restaurants and wines from the Leelanau Peninsula. http://www.leelanauchanmber.com/

This is an impressive juried event, showcasing more than 120 artists from across the country. Featuring jewelry, sculpture, photography, glass, wood, fiber and more. The Artcenter is proud to offer a high quality art festival for the community and surrounding areas. Fairgoers can also enjoy live music, concessions, artist demonstrations and children's activities. http://www.artcentertraversecity.com/

Summer time is “outside time” in Traverse City, so it might seem odd that one of the area's most popular new summer festivals takes place almost entirely indoors. Founded in 2005, the Traverse City Film Festival has been able to lure movie buffs away from the beaches and golf courses with an outstanding selection of independent, foreign, and documentary films, as well as premieres, parties, panel discussions and lectures about the world of film. http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/

One of the most competitive art shows in Michigan, this festival at Suttons Bay's Marina Park features some of the area's best artists and crafters as well as artisans from other parts of the country.

Organized by the Water Wonderland Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, Inc., this is a judged show located along the Boardman River boardwalk in Traverse City. Admission is free. Featuring 50 boats, circa 1900 through current wooden classics. Boats on display usually include high-powered mahogany runabouts, hydroplanes, outboards, vintage engines, powered launches, wooden canoes, and rowboats.

Exhibits, barn dance, 4-H live stock shows, carnival, Grand Stand shows, tough truck competition, great food. Midway open 10am-11pm.

Location: One mile west of Buckley off M-37 on County Road 633. Website: http://www.buckleyoldengineshow.org This event has over 700 antique gas and steam tractors, cars and trucks -- and a working 1923 steam locomotive that carries passengers around a mile of track. More details when available.

This annual weekend features a spectacular race through Leelanau's vineyards followed by a self guided wine tour of LPVA member wineries featuring world class wines and culinary delights that reflect the season's bounty.