Meijer Festival of Races
Traverse City, MI
- Half Marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Celebrate over 50 years of the Meijer Festival of Races, presented by Cherry Bay Orchards, by registering for one of these signature events: the Priority Health 5K, the Michigan Planners 10K, the Michigan Planners McKinley Challenge 15K, or the Michigan Planners Half Marathon. This iconic race series showcases the natural … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jul 11):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 82 | 79 | 78 | 84 | 78 |
| L (°F) | 58 | 66 | 60 | 66 | 54 |
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Beautiful course
The race course was beautiful, and I love Traverse City so I was happy to run this race. The race is part of the Cherry Festival activities, but honestly it … MORE
The race course was beautiful, and I love Traverse City so I was happy to run this race. The race is part of the Cherry Festival activities, but honestly it almost seemed like an afterthought. The food at the end of the race was very minimal, cherries, bananas and cookies. The medal was not super impressive. There were some cheering spectators along the route which was nice. The last part of the race went through downtown where everyone was waiting for a parade to start, and none of the folks who were lined up to watch the parade really knew what to do with a bunch of runners going down the road! You might expect some cheering, but there wasn’t any. It felt a bit weird. Overall it was a nice race, and I would recommend it only because I love visiting the area.
Beautiful Course Bring Electrolytes
Gives the impression of a small town race in the sense of participants and race production, but there were some amazing runners on the course! I really enjoyed this course. … MORE
Gives the impression of a small town race in the sense of participants and race production, but there were some amazing runners on the course!
I really enjoyed this course. You started in a working cherry orchard, ran along the west Grand Traverse bay, and finished on Front Street. The views were amazing and I lost track of time checking out the lake houses along the way. It was limited to 500 participants so it didn’t feel crowded until we merged with the other race distances. Everyone was friendly, online results were instant (you scanned the QR code on your bib), and it was easy for my daughter to pick up her age group award.
Downside: no electrolytes on the course, only water stops. We were fortunate the day was cooler and overcast. Had it been sunny and just a few degrees warmer, runners would of had more issues. General lack of communication…when we picked up our packets were weren’t told there was a drop bag station, it seemed hard to find the information about shuttles and where/when to pick up our packets. And the saddest part for me, when I finished there weren’t any cherries left.
Nice flat course
Very flat, scenic run, water stations only had water (no Gatorade) and I was glad I grabbed a bottle of water with me. Overall good organization. MORE
Very flat, scenic run, water stations only had water (no Gatorade) and I was glad I grabbed a bottle of water with me. Overall good organization.
A beautiful Lake Michigan Race!
The Traverse City Meijer Festival of Races, part of the National Cherry Festival, is everything you’d want in a summer half marathon: perfect July weather, shaded stretches, and stunning views … MORE
The Traverse City Meijer Festival of Races, part of the National Cherry Festival, is everything you’d want in a summer half marathon: perfect July weather, shaded stretches, and stunning views of Grand Traverse Bay paired with small-town charm. The course starts in cherry orchards before transitioning to a path along the bay, where sparkling water, cozy lakefront homes, and cheering neighbors create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. A soft morning fog added a magical touch to the early miles, making the race feel both peaceful and memorable. Race production is thoughtful and smooth, with well-placed aid stations, friendly volunteers, and clear signage that keeps runners confident throughout. My finish time was 2:16, and I found the course to be forgiving and inviting for both first-timers and experienced runners. The finish line in downtown Traverse City was festive with music, cherry-themed treats, and a medal plus a cup of cherries as swag—simple but perfectly on brand.
Nice race
Race starts off in orchards/vineyards on dirt/deep sand/gravel/grass then mostly flat on asphalt. Water stops every 2 miles, people cheering along the route. Good refreshments after the race. Nice shirt … MORE
Race starts off in orchards/vineyards on dirt/deep sand/gravel/grass then mostly flat on asphalt. Water stops every 2 miles, people cheering along the route. Good refreshments after the race. Nice shirt and medal.
Beautiful Northern Michigan
Ran the 5K this year with someone a touch slower than me, so was definitely just in it for fun and not the race. T-shirts were super cute, unless you … MORE
Ran the 5K this year with someone a touch slower than me, so was definitely just in it for fun and not the race. T-shirts were super cute, unless you were a guy, and then they were way too feminine (my fiancé complained about this). The scenery for the 5K was pretty, through some subs and ending on main street on the bay. I’ve heard the Half is gorgeous. Only parts I took issue with: parking and packet pickup were not that well organized, but they did have shuttles at the end of the race to take you back to your car. And the 5K finishers only got a pin and not a medal! I truly don’t like when races do that. Other than that, really fun to get fresh cherries at the end and hang out at the cherry festival for a while after.
Rewarding runners w/cherries since 1973
Running the Chateau Grand Traverse Half Marathon offered us the chance to escape the suffocating heat of South Carolina in the summer and experience one of the many alluring events … MORE
Running the Chateau Grand Traverse Half Marathon offered us the chance to escape the suffocating heat of South Carolina in the summer and experience one of the many alluring events in Traverse City, Michigan: the Cherry Festival. If you’re not from Michigan, you may be dismissing the state, however the combination of nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes and the exceptional experience of the Chateau Grand Traverse Half Marathon has turned us into Michiganers at heart (at least in the summer).
The course for this race was point to point, beginning at Chateau Grand Traverse on the Old Mission peninsula and ending in downtown Traverse City. School buses shuttled us from Eastern Elementary (site of packet pickup) to the Chateau. There was no line to board the shuttle at 6 am, and as a result, no stress. Upon arrival at the race start, Chateau Grand Traverse had its porch (and its heaters) open to runners prior to the 7 am start. A bag drop allowed runners to leave a drawstring backpack (provided by the race) of warm, dry clothes that would be shuttled to the finish line. Port-o-let lines were modest and manageable, and any runner that needed to was able to use the restroom before the race began.
The first few miles of the half marathon course took runners through the orchards at Chateau Grand Traverse via sandy, dirt paths. The course here consisted of small hills and some sharp turns. While mildly challenging, the Chateau Grand Traverse portion is part of what makes this race so unique. How often can you say you ran a half marathon through a cherry orchard?
Once exiting the trail portion of the course, runners were treated to views of Grand Traverse Bay on the right as they ran down Peninsula Drive. While the 15K (also part of the Meijer Festival of Races, much like a 5K and 10K) had runners tackle the monster hill, Mt. McKinley at about the halfway point in their race) the half marathon consisted of small, gently rolling hills. In combination with the magnificent views, this was an easy course to run and one of the most beautiful. To us, the weather at this time of year was exceptional. With temperatures in the low 60’s and a light breeze blowing off the bay, the race had ideal summer running conditions.
Northern Michigan in the summer is perfection. Fortunately, the Meijer Festival of races and its Chateau Grand Traverse Half Marathon allow runners to experience that perfection via a beautiful course and well managed race experience. This is definitely a race to add to your bucket list.
For photos of the race and more details about the experience visit https://www.serialrunner.com/half-marathon-race-recaps/meijer-cherry-festival-of-races-chateau-grand-traverse-half-marathon or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @runnullardsrun.