BY ART BUKOWSKI
abukowski@record-eagle.com
April 17, 2009 06:10 am TRAVERSE CITY -- July can't come soon enough. 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. "I honestly believe that 2009 will be exciting, with something old, something new, something borrowed and all things red," Festival board President Mary Marois said. "We are going to put on a party with a capital 'P.'" The 83rd annual festival runs July 4-11 in Traverse City. Among the new events is a "Heroes' Day" scheduled for July 6. Festival visitors who serve or have served in any branch of the armed forces will be recognized with a special medallion and honored with discounts throughout the festival grounds. Police officers, firefighters and other public safety personnel also are eligible. Participating downtown merchants will provide "hero" discounts, and certain hotels and motels in the area will offer savings packages. Musical entertainment on Heroes Day will be a patriotic pops concert by Northwestern Michigan College's Community Band. Also new is a global wine pavilion expected to feature nearly 100 wines from around the world. The pavilion will be set up on the grounds of the former Clinch Park Zoo July 9-11 and feature a wine bar and tastings. Festival favorites like the air show, Cherry Royale Parade, beer tent and Arnold Amusements midway will return, organizers said. Volunteers still are needed. A volunteer sign-up party will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Art Van Furniture in Garfield Township, though prospective volunteers also can sign up on the festival's Web site. The deadline to apply to be a National Cherry Queen candidate also looms. Those interested should visit the Web site and apply by May 1. For more information about the festival, visit www.cherryfestival.org. Musical acts The following acts are expected to perform at the 2009 National Cherry Festival's Bay Side music stage: -- July 4: Kenny Wayne Shepherd -- July 5: Twisted Finster -- July 6: Patriotic "Pops" concert by Northwestern Michigan College's Community Band -- July 7: Billy Squier -- July 8: 1964 The Tribute -- July 11: Think Floyd USA. Organizers hope to pin down a country music act shortly.
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Photos
Nicole Crawford, 18, has her painting unveiled as the 2009 Student Art Competition winner. The National Cherry Festival held a spring press conference on Thursday at the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City, to announce plans for this year-s event and its theme, 'Generations of Fun.' The event runs July 4-11. Record-Eagle
World War II veterans are introduced by National Cherry Festival executive director Tim Hinkley during the announcement of the festival-s 'Heroes- Day.' Record-Eagle
Charles Murphy signs his artwork on the label of a special wine for the National Cherry Festival during Thursday-s press conference. Record-Eagle