Come check out another great TC festival this weekend!

We're loving the National Cherry Festival, including fantastic evening entertainment, games, contests...and of course parades (see article below)!

But don't forget about the other major festival now underway!

The 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival kicked off this week, and this weekend includes several feature events sure to please locals and visitors alike:

Kid’s Day, Saturday, 10am–3pm: Bring the kids out! In addition to all the competitive equestrian events scheduled, there will be games, races, and prizes alongside Flintfields’ farmhouse. Proceeds from this day will benefit the Grand Traverse & Leelanau County 4H programs. This event is sponsored by Voelker Implement Sales of Big Rapids and Lake City.

$15,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, Saturday, 5pm: Come see some of the nation's best compete in a competitive match for prestige and prize money!

$30,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix of Traverse City, Sunday, 2pm: This jumping competition is sure to impress, as award-winning horses and their world-class riders navigate a course featuring several jumps as high as five feet.

Admission to all events are $5 per person.

Horse Shows by the Bay is staged at Flintfields - an 80-acre show complex on Bates Road, a half mile north of M-72 in Acme Township.

Several Grand Traverse area businesses will also be on-site at Flintfields this weekend and throughout the Festival, including Garden Goods, Mabel’s, Red Ginger, Red Hare Tack & Togs, Posh Pet Boutique, Jane’s Horse & Home, Bad Pony Designs, and more. And, for all things equestrian, also on-site are Custom Fox Tack Shop, Ann K. Hubbard's Tack Shop and Sporthorse Saddlery.

So bring friends, bring a camera, bring a blanket and a picnic. It's Traverse City's own equestrian festival!

Horse Shows by the Bay features thousands of the nation’s best horses and riders competing in the International Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage. Festival dates are July 8 – August 2, 2009. For more information please click here.

Horsing around at the Cherry Fest parade!

Lillie Keenan of New York and Lulu Farish of Kentucky accompanied Harry, the Horse Shows by the Bay mascot, last night on the official Horse Shows by the Bay float in the National Cherry Festival Junior Royale Parade last night. The float was pulled by a John Deere tractor donated by Voelker Implements Sales, and several Horse Show participants were on-hand to cheer on the float and enjoy Traverse City's Cherry Festival and parade festivities.