Meijer Festival of Races presented by Cherry Bay Orchards

Celebrate 53 years of the Meijer Festival of Race presented by Cherry Bay Orchards by signing up for the Priority Health 5k, the Michigan Planners 10k, the Michigan Planners McKinley Challenge 15k or the Michigan Planners Half Marathon today!  This race series celebrates the beauty and agriculture in the Traverse City Area provides unique race experience such as finishing on a parade route or running through an orchard (Half Marathon only). 

Half Marathon Race Day Timeline:

5:30‐6:00 a.m. – LATE packet pick up & registration (Only available at Central High School)

Please Note: Registration will be open thru Saturday for LATE SIGN-UPS. However, you must sign up on your computer or smartphone prior to coming to registration and packet pick up. There will be NO ONSITE COMPUTERS.

7:00a.m. – Start of the Half Marathon at Old Mission Peninsula School
8:00 – 10:45a.m. – Finish line shuttle back to Central High School.
10:30a.m. All race courses close  
10:45a.m. Finish line will close promptly at 10:45 a.m. 

Parking:
Available on the Campus of NMC, EXCLUDING Aspen, Cedar and Chestnut Lots. Parking also at
Eastern Elementary and nearby Traverse City Central High School parking lots. Follow volunteers and
signage. Please Note: NMC Main Entrance closes at 7:00AM on race morning! Enter NMC parking via
East College Dr. (off Front St.) after 7:00AM.

Timing:
Wear your race number on the front of your clothing. You will be recorded for your NET time which is
actual start line to actual finish line. Mats at the starting line and at the finish give every runner a net
time. Timing is provided by Classic Race Management. They have been timing the Festival of Races for
over 25 years!

Safety:
The race route follows city streets that are not entirely closed to vehicular traffic. Certain streets may
be under construction or in disrepair. Stay alert! In the 15K, participants should be prepared to run
the distance in 2 hours or less. This equates to a 13 minute per mile pace. In the Half Marathon,
participants should be prepared to run the distance in 3 1/2 hours or less. This equates to a 15 minute
per mile pace.

Other information:
Baby joggers are not recommended, but if you must, please register for the 5K and line up behind
all runners.
NO leashed or unleashed dogs.
All courses and finish line will close promptly at 10:30 a.m. for the start of the DTE Foundation Cherry Royale Parade.

Weather:
In the event of weather issues or a municipal emergency, the police may advise race organizers not
to hold the event. In such a scenario, race officials will cancel the event. Race officials will be using
the WBGT Index to advise participants of weather conditions. Event policy prohibits refunds for any
reason including a change of race date, suspension, or cancellation.

Finish Line Shuttle:
There will be shuttle buses available west of the finish line until 10:45AM. Buses will drive a loop from
the finish line to Central High School.

Please note: Sorry, no refunds or transfers. If you decide to switch races you may do so by logging into your
Runsignup account and transferring your race. You must do this before July 2. All transfers will cost $5 to cover
Runsignup fees. We will order t‐shirts on June 5th. We will not re‐order shirts after the race. Please register early
and get your preferred t‐shirt size!

5K/10K/15K Race Day Timeline:
6:00‐7:00 a.m. – LATE packet pick up & registration (Only available at Central High School)

Please Note: Registration will be open thru Saturday for LATE SIGN-UPS. However, you must sign up on your computer or smartphone prior to coming to registration and packet pick up. There will be NO ONSITE COMPUTERS.

7:30a.m. – Start of the 5K
7:50a.m. - Start of 10K
8:05a.m - Start of 15K
8:00 – 10:30a.m. – Finish line shuttle back to Central High School. 
10:30a.m. All race courses close
10:45a.m. Finish line will close promptly at 10:45 a.m.

Parking:
Available on the Campus of NMC, EXCLUDING Aspen, Cedar and Chestnut Lots. Parking also at
Eastern Elementary and nearby Traverse City Central High School parking lots. Follow volunteers and
signage. Please Note: NMC Main Entrance closes at 7:00AM on race morning! Enter NMC parking via
East College Dr. (off Front St.) after 7:00AM.

Timing:
Wear your race number on the front of your clothing. You will be recorded for your NET time which is
actual start line to actual finish line. Mats at the starting line and at the finish give every runner a net
time. Timing is provided by Classic Race Management. They have been timing the Festival of Races for
over 25 years!

Safety:
The race route follows city streets that are not entirely closed to vehicular traffic. Certain streets may
be under construction or in disrepair. Stay alert! In the 15K, participants should be prepared to run
the distance in 2 hours or less. This equates to a 13 minute per mile pace. In the Half Marathon,
participants should be prepared to run the distance in 3 1/2 hours or less. This equates to a 15 minute
per mile pace.

Other information:
Baby joggers are not recommended, but if you must, please register for the 5K and line up behind
all runners.
NO leashed or unleashed dogs.
All courses and finish line will close promptly at 10:30 a.m.

***Finisher Medals are available this year for all races***

Weather:
In the event of weather issues or a municipal emergency, the police may advise race organizers not
to hold the event. In such a scenario, race officials will cancel the event. Race officials will be using
the WBGT Index to advise participants of weather conditions. Event policy prohibits refunds for any
reason including a change of race date, suspension, or cancellation.

Finish Line Shuttle:
There will be shuttle buses available west of the finish line until 10:45AM. Buses will drive a loop from
the finish line to Central High School.

Please note: Sorry, no refunds or transfers. If you decide to switch races you may do so by logging into your
Runsignup account and transferring your race. You must do this before July 2. All transfers will cost $5 to cover
Runsignup fees. We will order t‐shirts on June 5th. We will not re‐order shirts after the race. Please register early
and get your preferred t‐shirt size!

Half Marathon Shuttles: We will have buses at Central High School race morning to shuttle runners to Old Mission Peninsula School. Please note there is NO parking for spectators at Old Mission Peninsula School township ordinance. Shuttles will run from 5:00AM to 6:15AM. The last shuttle will leave promptly at 6:15AM. You may be dropped off at Old Mission Peninsula School if you do not wish to ride the shuttle. Please allow plenty of time in the morning, the drive takes longer than you would expect. The race will start right at 7:00AM. 

Old Mission Peninsula School: 2699 Island View Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686

Finish Line: Shuttles will run from the finish line back to Central High School from 7:15AM - 10:45AM. 

Shirts: We encourage everyone to register early to get their preferred t-shirt size. We will not re-order shirts. 

The Course will close at 10:30AM. For our longer races we suggest runners run at a maximum 13-15 minute/mile pace. We may have to ask runners to get off the course if they are still running after 10:30AM. Thank you for understanding. 

Maps are for reference only. They will be professionally measured and marked on race day. There may be slight changes to course routes. Please check back for updates. 

5K RACE MAP, 10K RACE MAP, 15K RACE MAP, HALF MARATHON*

*The first 2 miles of the Half Marathon includes a trail run through private property. You only have permission to run on this property on race day. No spectators can park at Old Mission Peninsula School OR Island View Road. Please tell all spectators to head to the DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade route on Front Street for the Finish Line. 

FINISH LINE PHOTO CONTEST

Grab your bag of dried cherries when you cross the finish line and share your pic on social media for a chance to win a case of Tart Cherry Juice!

Here’s how to enter…

• Take a finish line pic with your dried cherries
• Post to your Instagram or Facebook
• Mention @cherrybayorchards in your post copy and use the hashtag #runforred

Winner will be announced on July 20!