Traverse City Cherry Festival Canceled Due to Coronavirus
One of northern Michigan's top summer destination for decades, has been canceled for 2020 amid uncertainty over the coronavirus.
The National Cherry Festival has announced on Facebook Thursday the 2020 festival will be canceled.
In a written statement organizers said,“The safety and health of our entire community, guests, volunteers and staff is our first priority and always top of mind when making our decisions. … With the uncertainty of the times, we are unable to be fully confident in the fact that it will be safe to gather and celebrate the first week of July 2020."
The festival in Traverse City was scheduled for July 3-10. The event is always a major tourist draw for the area with it's parades, fireworks, concerts, and more. The cancelation will have a huge impact on the economy of the area. “Not only is the Festival a beloved national tradition, it’s a key economic driver for our region. It’s painful to see organizers cancel the 2020 event, but prioritizing the health and safety of festival goers, volunteers and the community is the honorable thing to do”, said Trevor Tkach, President and CEO of Traverse City Tourism.
The cancelation comes as other Michigan events such as the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival announced postponements or cancellations.
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