Family Friendly Events
Current family-friendly events in West Michigan, great, fun, things to do for kids of all ages! Fun for the whole family!
Photo by Cherry T-Ball Drop
Downtown Traverse City bustles with party goers for the annual CherryT Ball Drop held on New Year’s Eve. The gates open at 10:30pm and the event ends at 12:20am. Cost is a $5 donation that benefits a different charity each year. The beneficiary for 2024 was Project Feed the Kids which plays a critical role in ensuring children and their families have access to nutritious meals. Just over $15,573 was raised for the organization at the 2024 event.
CherryT is a play on words for Charity and the cherry, a symbol of the Traverse City region, which grows about 75% of the nations tart cherry crop each year.
The celebration takes place at the downtown intersection of Front Street and Cass Street. The family-friendly event sees crowds estimated at 8,000 to 12,000 people. The non-profit organization in charge raises money and collects non-perishable food items while people party for a purpose in Traverse City’s own version of Time Square.
Local acts and a DJ on the lit stage help bring in the new year. Right before midnight, the large illuminated cherry is lowered to usher in the coming year, courtesy of Team Elmers & North Michigan Concrete Asphalt Excavation Crane & Rigging. A short fireworks display follows the ball drop.
Sponsors for the 2024 event were Traverse City Tourism, Leelanau Cellars, Team Elmers, North Michigan Concrete Asphalt Excavation Crane & Rigging, Delamar Traverse City, DoorDash, North Bar TC, and UpNorthLive.
Current family-friendly events in West Michigan, great, fun, things to do for kids of all ages! Fun for the whole family!
West Michigan is the location for many Car Shows during the summer. Various awards and plaques are presented at these car shows.
Farm Markets & U-Pick farms offer locally grown and organic produce, flowers, plants, seeds, and more in West Michigan.
The Michigan Audubon Society Lake Bluff Center overlooks Lake Michigan near Manistee and features wildlife and a bird sanctuary.
Beautiful color emerges come Fall. Take it all in with an afternoon drive, or stroll, through the many forests of West Michigan.
Scottville Riverside Park, along the Pere Marquette River, has over 50 modern sites and is popular for camping and fishing.
The Pentwater River provides opportunities to experience a paddle sport for the first time or take on a challenge for those more experienced.
Before you make a splash in Lake Michigan, check out the water temperatures for beaches from Manistee, Ludington, Pentwater, and Silver Lake.
The West Michigan area, with many small lakes and rivers to explore, is a popular location for paddle sports.