The 2025 National Cherry Festival is set to take place from June 28 to July 5 in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. With over 500,000 attendees expected, navigating the festivities can be challenging. Fortunately, the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) offers convenient and free transportation options to help you enjoy the festival without the hassle of traffic and parking.

 

Free Cherry Festival Shuttle Service

BATA provides a free Cherry Festival Shuttle, making it easy to get to and from downtown Traverse City during the festival.

  • Service Dates: June 28 – July 5, 2025

  • Operating Hours: Daily from 7 AM to Midnight

  • Frequency: Every 15–20 minutes during peak hours

  • Stops Include:

These shuttles are family-friendly, ADA accessible, and equipped with bike racks, so you can bring the whole crew—or your cruiser.

 

Park & Ride = Less Stress, More Festival

Parking downtown fills up fast, especially on big event days like the Air Show, Cherry Royale Parade, or concert nights. Save yourself the time (and gas) by using one of BATA’s Park & Ride lots, located just outside the busy downtown zone.

Just park your car, hop on a shuttle, and enjoy the ride. It’s that easy.

 

Plan Your Ride with the BATA App

Want to know when your bus is coming or where to catch the next shuttle? The BATA Transit app lets you:

  • Track buses in real time

  • Get route and schedule info

  • See any detours or service alerts

 

Festival Highlights You Won’t Want to Miss

With BATA handling your transportation, you can focus on enjoying the festival's top events:

  • Air Show: Featuring aerial demonstrations over Grand Traverse Bay.

  • Concerts: Enjoy live music at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage.

  • Parades: Don't miss the Consumers Energy Community Royale Parade on July 3 and the DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade on July 5.

  • Fireworks: Spectacular displays on July 4 and the festival finale on July 5.

 

Supporting a Greener Festival

By choosing public transit, you're helping reduce congestion, lower emissions, and keep the festival area more pedestrian-friendly. It's a small choice that makes a big difference—for the environment and for everyone’s experience.

 

Pro Tips for Riders

To make the most of your Cherry Festival experience with BATA, be sure to bring exact fare or a valid transit pass if you're using regular routes. Arrive early, especially on high-traffic days like parade and air show events, as buses can get busy. Look for signage near festival entrances to locate BATA pick-up and drop-off points. And most importantly, be patient and courteous—everyone is here to enjoy the celebration.

 

See You at the Festival!

From the Kids' Cherry Pie Eating Contest to the Blue Angels soaring above Grand Traverse Bay, the National Cherry Festival is pure Michigan magic—and BATA is proud to be part of it.

Let us do the driving so you can focus on the fun.

 

(Updated: 06.19.25)