The early returns from the National Cherry Festival are in, and the consensus is it was better than many expected.

That's a wrap, as they say in show business. The 83rd National Cherry Festival concluded Saturday with record crowds, warm temperatures and good vibes shared by festival-goers and officials.

Ray and Cindy Klepper's 812 S. Union St. home sits near the end of the National Cherry Festival's famed Cherry Royale Parade. They've boisterously supported high school bands for about 30 years, and each year one downstate band returns the favor by playing the Kleppers a special tune.

This year, the National Cherry Festival recruited close to 1,300 volunteers who covered over 3,000 shifts.

Color, creativity and good design. That's what Junior Ambassador-in-training Will Schlosser, 8, looked for as he helped judge the Kid's Sand Sculpture Contest.

Most dogs at Thursday's Ultimate Air Dog competition -- a popular event at the National Cherry Festival -- jumped between 11 and 18 feet.

The sluggish economy wasn't far from the minds of George and Sue Bunker as they enjoyed the bustle of the National Cherry Festival this week. Sue lost her manufacturing job when her plant shuttered its doors without notice in 2007, and George retired from his contracting job 14 years ago. Insurance costs, food prices, taxes and more are on the rise, and it's enough to knot their stomachs.

The senior shuffleboard tournament held at the Traverse City Senior Center is a National Cherry Festival constant. This year it was chock-full at 32 participants.

The 83rd National Cherry Festival is in its final days. But the festivities are far from over for one young woman. She'll spend the next year as queen of the National Cherry Festival, busied, like current queen Megan Umulis, at myriad Cherry Festival events. Tonight, one of the four finalists will be crowned 2009-2010 National Cherry Festival Queen.

Mustard and ketchup stained Taven Medler's cheeks as he ripped into his second hot dog. His pace slowed as he buckled down and ignored questions from his uncle Steve and grandfather Caryl Tavener; the boy, 5, focused intently on the condiment-soaked bun before him, a nice family moment at the Intergenerational Picnic at the Grand Traverse Pavilions on Wednesday.

Rhonda Gates took the day off work to spend with her son. He wasn't sick; it wasn't his birthday, or a holiday. It was Special Kids' Day at the National Cherry Festival. "This is a day for him, and that's special for me," Gates said.

The National Cherry Festival has more than 80 corporate sponsors, such as Verizon and Pepsi, and 17 promotional partners, like "The Other White Meat Campaign." Promotional partnerships raise displays at the Open Space during at least part of the festival. That's right, part.

Rosemary Antoine considers Heritage Day an opportunity to celebrate ethnic backgrounds and gather for fellowship and a traditional pow-wow. "When I'm here, my heart is very touched," Antoine, of Peshawbestown, and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Traverse City restaurant Opa! Coney & Grill sponsored the contest that featured relatively simple rules: 10 contestants had 10 minutes to wolf down as many hot dogs as possible from a massive plate. Condiments were allowed, though competitors ignored them, and water available as a chaser.

Attendees learned about climate, environment, pesticides and aspects of cherry farming at a recent Cherry Connection event, held at Michigan State University's Horticultural Research Station in Leelanau County's Bingham Township.

Parents and students across the region have been up to their eyeballs in parade preparations since April. All their work will float down Front and Union streets on Thursday at the Junior Royale Parade and again Saturday at the Cherry Royale Parade during the National Cherry Festival.

A long list of senior entertainment slated for the upcoming days began with a Very Cherry Distinguished Senior breakfast at the Traverse City Elks Lodge on Monday, and included the naming of the Rev. Edwin Thome as the Distinguished Senior of this year's Cherry Festival.

Last year, the Grand Traverse Pie Company introduced make-and-bake pies for kids at the festival Open Space. About 800 kids are expected to make a pie this year.

Military veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and other rescue personnel received medallions during this year's Heroes Day, good for discounts on Cherry Festival fare and at some downtown businesses.

Sometimes it takes a different perspective to see the whole picture. Such was the case on Sunday for Traverse City residents Karyn Oncu and Ellen White, friends who reminded themselves once again of northern Michigan's unique beauty. Their vehicle: a spin on the peninsula during the Old Mission Bike Tour.

Like a lot of locals, I'm ambivalent about the festival, though I recognize its contribution to the city. I don't skip town to avoid it, but I don't schedule my vacation around it, either. The sad truth is that I don't like cherries, except in pies. I hate crowds and I wilt like a plucked wildflower in temperatures above 80. Yet there's something about festival week that makes my step a little lighter.

Angeline Thompson, 7, busied herself Sunday creating a rose out of yarn, one of nine crafts in which children could participate at Junior Arts and Crafts at F&M Park. The event is one of many designed specifically for children at the National Cherry Festival.

As part of the National Cherry Festival, the State Theatre is showing "The Dark Knight," free for teenagers.

Jim Allen didn't know if his three-legged dog could even swim when he watched the dock jumping competition at the National Cherry Festival two years ago.

Here is a look at some of the numbers surrounding this years festival.

Eric Johnson tilted his face toward the sky, his eyes round, as a jet roared above his head. He's 4 years old, but he didn't cover his ears. Eric stood fixed to the ground at the Open Space in Traverse City, and followed the plane's trailing line as his mouth fell into a grin. Shy around strangers, he gave the 2009 National Cherry Festival air show an approving nod, but his mother said being in Traverse City was more exciting than Eric would have you believe.

The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navys flight demonstration squad, appear at the Cherry Festival every other, even-numbered year. This years air show will be from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. both today and Sunday and features the Trojan Horsemen, a six-aircraft team that performs across the country.

Big things may be happening for them on the national stage, but The Bihlman Bros. are never too big for the National Cherry Festival stage. The powerhouse blues band will reunite in Traverse City Saturday for the first time in at least four years to help kick off the 83rd annual festival.

A slew of new venues, events, and products will be on display at the 83rd National Cherry Festival, which gets under way on Saturday.

Weather doesn't appear to be a problem during this year's Cherry Festival, July 4-11.

Running Fit will host a course preview run for this year's National Cherry Festival races today at 7 p.m.

Workers buzzed the soggy Open Space early this week in preparation for the 83rd annual festival that begins Saturday and runs through July 11.

Too old to hang with their families, not yet adults on their own. Older teens attending the National Cherry Festival now have an event all their own, thanks to some collaboration and creativity in the community.

West Grand Traverse Bay will serve as stage for twin Saturday pyrotechnic shows. Fireworks displays are planned for this year's 83rd annual National Cherry Festival on July 4 and 11. Both are set to erupt at 10:30 p.m. those nights. The July 4 show is sponsored by the Grand Traverse Veteran Coalition.

The Outback Adventure canoe races on the Boardman River will help kick off the Cherry Festival on July 4-5.

The National Cherry Festival has selected its four finalists, one of whom will become the 2009 National Cherry Queen in ceremonies scheduled for July 10.

The National Cherry Festival announced its applicants for National Cherry Queen. Five finalists will be chosen Saturday at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Organizers unveiled plans for the 2009 National Cherry Festival during a Thursday ceremony at the top of the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City. This year's festival bears the tag line "Generations of Fun" and will preserve traditions while injecting new attractions, organizers said.