National Cherry Festival Event Schedule 2008

9:00am to 11:00pm
Location: Traverse City
Website: http://www.cherryfestival.org/

The National Cherry Festival will kick off its 82nd annual celebration with a highly anticipated, patriotic 4th of July weekend return visit by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 over West Grand Traverse Bay. Visit the National Cherry Festival website for further information.

9am-5pm Two-person Beach Volleyball Tournament
10am-12pm Big Wheel Race
10am-11pm Festival Open Space Park
11am-11pm Arnold Amusements Midway
11am-7pm Million Dollar Hole In One
11am Opening Ceremonies
11:45am-3pm Festival Air Show
1pm-11pm Bay Side Entertainment Stage
3pm-9pm Bingo
6pm-7pm Cherry Pit Spit Contest
6pm-8pm Hagerty Family Cruise Night
E-Mail: info@cherryfestival.org
Phone: 800-968-3380

Polo Coming To Traverse City at Horse Shows by the Bay

Horse Shows by the Bay brings Michigan vs. Michigan State polo match to northern MichiganTraverse City, MI - June 16, 2008 - Traverse City's own world-class equestrian event, Horse Shows by the Bay, announced that it will bring the storied sport and spectacle of polo to Traverse City. The region's first ever polo match will be a charity exhibition between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University co-ed polo teams on Friday, August 1, at 6 p.m. The event will raise funds for both teams.The polo match is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door for $5.The event will be held in the new Grand Prix Show Jumping Arena at Flintfields Horse Park on Bates Road in Williamsburg, the site of the three-week long Horse Shows festival to be held July 16-August 3.Commenting on the special announcement, Horse Show Organizer Alex Rheinheimer said, "This event is going to be a spectacle in every sense. We're delighted to be working with both Michigan State and Michigan to build an event that will include sporting competition, high fashion, the rivalry of Michigan and Michigan State, and more. We're looking forward to a fantastic evening."To top off the polo match, attendees are also invited to participate in a first-ever hat contest. Prize money totaling $500 will be awarded in four categories: Most Over the Top, Best Team Spirit MSU, Best Team Spirit U of M, and Silliest. The Silliest category will be open to kids only. The hat contest will be sponsored by Meadowview Farm and The Johnson Family of Grand Rapids. In addition to polo, the three-week long festival will also include competitions for hunters, jumpers, and dressage and award prize money in excess of $360,000. Other events this year include Local Rider Competition Day, scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Kid's Day on Saturday, July 19, when all visitors under age 18 are admitted free and can enjoy such activities as horseless jumping, barn tours, face painting, dog agility, and demonstrations.The public is invited to attend and experience the grace and excitement of equestrian competition each of the three weekends, as well as during the entire final week. Admission is $5 per person.Polo, the oldest team sport, was originally used for training cavalry more than 2,000 years ago. The first recorded polo tournament was played in 600 BC between the Turkomans and the Persians. Today, polo is an international sport played in more than 60 countries across the world. There are more than 250 active polo clubs in the United States Polo Association and more than 50 million people worldwide enjoy the sport each year.

Hail Storm Passes by Peninsula Bay Resort today...

Traverse City "Cherry" sized hail came raining from the sky this afternoon. This is some video I took just prior to the downpour. JSH

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