Floats in Cherry Festival offer youth special experience
With the 99th National Cherry Festival now underway, event attendees will be looking to participate in many of its annual events again, including its celebratory parades.
The first of two parades set for the festival this year is the Consumers Energy Community Royale Parade on July 3 at 6:30 p.m. A heartwarming highlight of the cherry festival, the parade shines a spotlight on the Junior Royalty Program, where each participating elementary school and homeschool designs and builds a float inspired by this year’s theme, “Christmas in July.” The second parade, the DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade, kicks off the final day of the festival on July 5 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will also feature beloved junior royal floats, creative specialty entries, as well as the first official appearance of the newly crowned 2025-2026 National Cherry Queen.
