About the Festival

Join us for the Third Annual Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest! The festival is a four-day wintertime celebration chock-full of fun for all ages in the Cherry Capital of the World, Traverse City, over President’s Day Weekend, February 13-16, 2009.

With a portion of the proceeds going to Special Olympics Michigan, a $10 button allows festival-goers to take advantage of a diverse roster of indoor and outdoor activities at three venues in the Traverse City area: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Downtown Traverse City, and Mt. Holiday Ski & Recreation Area.

Event Overview

The Third Annual Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest is a four-day outdoor winter festival held in Traverse City, Michigan February 13-16, 2009. There are a variety of family-friendly activities for the public to enjoy, including horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowmobile rides and several kids’ games.

Many of the festival activities take place at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa with additional activities held throughout the region, including Downtown Traverse City and Mt. Holiday Ski & Recreation Area. In the inaugural year, 2007, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa was the sole venue. In 2008, Downtown Traverse City was added as a second venue. We are very pleased to welcome Mt. Holiday Ski & Recreation Area as an exciting new third venue in 2009!

Admission to the majority of festival activities requires the purchase of a $10 festival button with a portion of the proceeds being given to Special Olympics Michigan at the conclusion of the festival. (NOTE: Children 10 years and younger are admitted free and do not receive a button.)

The Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest is an exciting entertainment opportunity for visitors and area residents as it drives mid-winter tourism to the area and provides a fund-raising mechanism for a Michigan-based non-profit organization. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!

2009 Festival Highlights

In only its third year, the Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest is fast-becoming a community-wide winter festival. There are dozens of activities at three exciting venues during the four days of the festival. Highlights of this year’s four-day event include:

• Live Music in Downtown Traverse City, featuring two live bands (Saturday)
• “Soup ‘R Bowl” competition in Downtown Traverse City (Saturday)
• “Frozen Bed Race” competition in Downtown Traverse City (Saturday)
• “Outdoor Fun Zone,” including games, activities and rides (Friday-Monday)
• Downhill events at Mt. Holiday (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
• “Polar Plunge,” presented by Special Olympics Michigan (Saturday)
• Carnival Rides, including Ferris Wheel (weather permitting; Saturday and Sunday)
• Frozen Fish Toss Competition (Saturday and Sunday)
• Cherry Pie Eating Competition (Saturday and Sunday)
• Pony Rides for Kids (Saturday and Sunday)
• Frosty 5K Run/Walk (Sunday)
• GRAND Chili Cook-off (Sunday)
• Fireworks Show (Sunday night)

View the complete schedule »