National Cherry Festival; Meijer Festival of Races 2021 | NCF Photo
National Cherry Festival; Meijer Festival of Races 2021 | NCF Photo
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The Meijer Festival of Races, which is part of the National Cherry Festival, will close part of Peninsula Drive on Saturday, July 10, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Garrett Boursaw (who is my nephew, by the way!) is the Cherry Festival contact person for the road closure. He notes that they will be staffing all of the crossroads to help re-route drivers to Center Road, which will remain open.

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They will begin routing southbound traffic to Center Road at Bowers Harbor Road. Peninsula Drive will open back up to drivers as runners complete the sections of the racing moving from north to south.

Note that for the half-marathon, Island View Road will be restricted to shuttle bus traffic and closed for the first section of the race, but this will be one of the first cross-roads to open back up.

“We are also encouraging residents to use an abundance of caution at McKinley Road and Center Road, as the 15K will be crossing Center to get to Peninsula Drive to merge with the half marathon runners,” notes Garrett.

He adds that they also plan to have their team, along with members of the Hagerty Bike Race Team, at East Shore Road and McKinley Road to help runners make that turn.

The 5k and 10K races will follow their usual routes except for moving from Front Street to the TART Trail for the finish line at Open Space Park.

Garrett notes that he has spoken with Peninsula Township officials (including at a Township Board meeting earlier this year), and residents are welcome to call his cell phone number, (231) 342-7696, with any questions or concerns.

As always, the Cherry Festival encourages Peninsula Township residents to be patient with the race team, the Grand Traverse Sheriff Deputies, and Peninsula Township Fire Department, as they work to provide a safe course for the runners, residents, and visitors to Peninsula Township and the National Cherry Festival.

A map of the race is included below. For more info about the race, visit the National Cherry Festival site here.

National Cherry Festival; Meijer Festival of Races 2021 | NCF Photo
National Cherry Festival; Meijer Festival of Races 2021 | NCF Photo

A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb

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