TRAVERSE CITY -- Angeline Thompson wasn't sure she was going to make it back to Traverse City for another Cherry Festival. Recently, the Florida girl, 7, has spent her summers between doctors' appointments and Boggy Creek, a Florida camp for children with cancer.
Thompson was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that usually attacks boys between the ages of 10 to 20.
"But, she's been cancer-free for a little over a year," said Angeline's grandmother, Susan Page, of Traverse City. "And she's ready to come back next year."
Angeline 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.
"We're hoping for over 300 kids," said Lani Bathje, director of children's events. "I know they enjoy it. Part of the festival is for them to have a real good time."
Besides yarn art, kids from 5 to 12 years old could make fans, visors, hats, binoculars and turtles, or have their face painted.
"We do different (crafts) every year," said Bathje. "The crayon melt, though, we have every year because it's such a popular one."
Arielle Cicchette, 6, of Macomb Township, is attending her sixth Cherry Festival.
"I love the bungee jump and the little blow-up thing, and the thing you put the sand in and dig for rocks," said Arielle, whose mom, Roseann, also is a big festival fan.
They make the trek north "because my mom wants to go," Arielle said.
Amanda Haredy, of Germany, made this her first Cherry Festival. She graduated from St. Francis High School as an exchange student last year, but missed the '08 festival and Fourth of July holiday.
So she returned this summer as a volunteer.
"It's really awkward that so many people are in Traverse City. It's normally nice, quiet; now there is all these tourists," Haredy said. "But I want to be involved and a part of the whole thing."
Cody, 5, and Brittany Rabideau, 4, of Fort Wayne, Ind., aren't new to the festival and by Sunday had already hit most of their favorite attractions.
"Popping the balloons, and I rided the elephant," Brittany said.
But the Rabideau children also want to try new things.
"I rode the elephant with mommy," Cody said. "But I want to ride the cars."
Also enjoying festival staples was Quinn Thomas, 3, who on Saturday ate an elephant ear, rode the train, and watched fireworks. Quinn also watched the air show "like this," he said, with his hands over his ears.
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