TRAVERSE CITY — Rock frontman David Lee Roth will headline the National Cherry Festival’s centennial celebration with a Fourth of July performance at the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage, festival organizers announced Monday. The appointment of the former Van Halen singer for July 4, 2026, is the centerpiece of expanded programming planned for the event’s 100th anniversary.
Roth’s set is expected to include classic hits and fan favorites from his decades-long career, organizers said, and will take place on the stage that sits along West Grand Traverse Bay. The Pepsi Bayside Music Stage — presented this year by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and 9&10 News, with additional support from Jim Beam, Michelob Ultra and KLT — has long hosted summer concerts for festivalgoers and visitors to the region.
Kat Paye, executive director of the National Cherry Festival, framed Roth’s booking as a milestone addition to the centennial schedule. “As we celebrate 100 years of the National Cherry Festival, we’re committed to making this milestone bigger than ever,” Paye said in the announcement. “Roth is a true rock legend and his high‑energy performance will be an unforgettable highlight of this year’s lineup.”
The National Cherry Festival, which honors Northern Michigan’s cherry industry and longstanding community traditions, has expanded its lineup for 2026 to mark the centennial, festival officials said. The July 4 headliner is part of a broader slate of programming intended to draw residents and tourists for holiday festivities along the bayfront.
Tickets for the David Lee Roth concert go on sale Friday, April 10, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern and can be purchased through the festival’s official website at cherryfestival.org. Pricing for the show starts at $60 for general admission; premium reserved seats are priced between $68 and $90 depending on location. A limited number of tickets for the GT Band EDC VIP Deck are available for $185.
Organizers emphasized that availability will likely be limited for premium and VIP areas, advising interested fans to secure seats when sales open. The announcement did not disclose whether the Roth concert will be streamed or whether there will be additional ticketing tiers or package deals tied to other centennial events.
The National Cherry Festival’s centennial comes amid renewed efforts by organizers to broaden entertainment offerings and attract larger crowds for the downtown Traverse City waterfront celebration. With Roth—a high-profile rock figure best known as the original voice of Van Halen—booked for the holiday evening, festival leaders are positioning the July 4 program as a marquee attraction for the milestone year.