Leelanau Cellars and The Festival Foundation will once again be the Official Wine of the CherryT Ball Drop, returning to celebrate the New Year in the heart of downtown Traverse City.
Since 2009, the CherryT Ball Drop has been a beloved northern Michigan tradition, bringing thousands together each New Year’s Eve to welcome the year ahead — while giving back to the community.
Proceeds from the annual celebration benefit a local charity, and this year’s recipient is the North Ed Foundation. Every purchase of Cherries Galore throughout the year helps support the CherryT Ball Drop’s charitable mission.
“The CherryT Ball Drop is all about celebrating the spirit of the season, and Cherries Galore adds the perfect festive sparkle,” said Kat Paye, CEO of The Festival Foundation. “We’re excited to partner with Leelanau Cellars to bring a taste of northern Michigan to this New Year’s tradition.”
Leelanau Cellars created Cherries Galore in December 2024. It was the winery’s first sparkling cherry Moscatomade with all-natural cherries, and it has quickly become a fan favorite.
“From the Cherry Festival to the CherryT Ball Drop, the Festival Foundation does a tremendous job putting on events for the community all year, and we love being a part of this,” said Bob Jacobson, Leelanau Cellars President. “Cherries Galore is a meaningful way for us to celebrate the flavor of Traverse City and expand our support for the Festival Foundation and the community we all love.”
To toast the occasion, The Festival Foundation is proud to support the New Year’s Eve celebration at North Bar,overlooking the CherryT Ball Drop in downtown Traverse City. Guests can enjoy Cherries Galore as the featured wine of the night while counting down to midnight. For event details, visit www.cherrytballdrop.org.
