Consumers Energy's Very Cherry Porch Parade

What is the Consumers Energy's Very Cherry Porch Parade?

The National Cherry Festival has always been about generations of fun and that little red fruit that means so much to us. Traditions are important to the National Cherry Festival and every now and then a new one is born. Beginning as a way to celebrate and show our cherry spirit in 2020, our Porch Parade has been added to the roster of the National Cherry Festival’s great parades. By decorating your porch, yard, or windows you can bring a smile and the cherry spirt to your neighbors.

During the 96th National Cherry Festival (July 2-9, 2022) we are asking members of the community to celebrate with us by decorating their porch, yard, or window to show their cherry spirit. And of course the theme is cherries.

Consumers Energy's Very Cherry Porch Parade will take place from July 2nd to July 9th.

***Porch Parade Contest***

Consumer’s Energy Very Cherry Porch Parade Contest.

Back by popular demand is the Consumers Energy Porch Parade Contest. Consumers Energy will vote on and award one home with an award for the best use of cherries! The owners of this porch will receive Downtown Gift Certificates in the amount of $1000. Additionally, four entries will be chosen at random to receive a $250 Gift Certificate to downtown TC.

To enter this contest, you must sign up to be part of our porch parade prior to June 25, 2022. Then during the week of the National Cherry Festival, complete the contest entry form (link will be located here on July 2, 2022), and upload up to 3 photos of your porch using the link in the form that will be available on July 2. Submissions will be accepted July 2 to July 15, 2022. Winners will be announced no later than August 15, 2022.Upload of photos must be titled the address of the porch – for example 521_S_Union_photo1.

Step 1: Register your display!

• Registration is FREE!
• You will be added to Consumers Energy's VERY Cherry Porch Parade Map.
• As a special thank you, at least the first 100+ Porches in the Traverse City Area that register will receive a FREE Consumers Energy's Very Cherry Porch Parade lawn sign that will be available for pick up at the National Cherry Festival Office in June.
• Particpants will receive details by email!

Step 2: Decorate Your Porch (Window, Yard, Sidewalk)

• Choose one of our ideas as inspiration, or go wild with your own. The point of decorating is to unleash your creativity and celebrate cherries and generations of fun. #cherriesatnight #juniorcherries #CherryRoyale
• Need some additional inspiration? The theme for this years Art Contest is Polinators and Cherries.
• Porches must be fully decorated by 12 noon on Saturday, July 2, 2022 and able to stay up until midnight Saturday, July 9, 2022.
• Porches must be appropriate for a family friendly audience.
• Don’t have a porch? No problem! Feel free to decorate your lawn, the sidewalk, a window, or something else visible from the street or sidewalk.

Step 3: Explore, Celebrate, Share

• Check the Porch Parade Map often to see how the celebration is growing!
• Go for a walk around your neighborhood, take pictures of the Porches you find, and tag us on social to help share the joy! @cherryfestival #cherryporchparade #paradinginplace #consumersenergy
• The more people who take part, the more celebration there is to share, so get your friends and neighbors involved!

Rules & Regulations:

• Displays must be fully decorated by 12 noon on Saturday, July 2, and be able to stay up until Saturday, July 9, and must be appropriate for a family audience.
• Displays should not focus on religious, political, ideological, or controversial themes or issues. Use of any political sign, social or political material is not permitted.
• Displays are not a place for commercial marketing. Businesses are welcomed and encouraged to participate with a focus on the mission of bringing our community together while social distancing.
• The Festival Foundation dba National Cherry Festival reserves the right to exclude any displays that do not meet our guidelines or that feature content not aligned with our mission.
• Registrations are limited to one per household, per location.
• Registration for the Very Cherry Porch Parade and/or tagging @cherryfestival or using #cherryporchparade #verycherryporchparade #cherriesatnight #juniorcherries #CherryRoyal with related photos or videos on social media, grants The Festival Foundation permission to use your images and footage on any platform.

Get Involved

Register Your Porch

Get Decorating

• Celebrate Cherries and go all out with the cherry décor you may have in your home or yard.

• Where kids rule the design. Get the whole family involved and put that youthful energy to work making your porch look AMAZING.

• Light it up! Bring out the Christmas Lights, Glow Sticks and more to Celebrate Cherries at Night.

See It All