Mitten Masterpiece to Partner with the National Cherry Festival for a Community Paint-by-Number Mural
Mitten Masterpiece is proud to announce an exciting partnership with the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, where we will be bringing a large-scale community art experience to one of Michigan’s most beloved summer traditions.
During the festival week this Fourth of July, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a 5-foot by 20-foot community paint-by-number mural, created collaboratively by festival attendees throughout the week.
This interactive artwork will allow thousands of visitors to contribute a brushstroke to a shared piece of art celebrating Michigan, creativity, and community.
A Historic Year for the Festival
This year’s National Cherry Festival carries special significance. The festival is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of tradition in Northern Michigan.
Held each year during the week of Independence Day, the festival draws an extraordinary crowd—typically 750,000 to 1 million visitors—making it one of the largest events in the Midwest.
The 2026 celebration will be even more memorable as July 4 falls on a Saturday and coincides with the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, creating a once-in-a-generation moment of celebration for both the festival and the nation.
A Community Mural for Traverse City
The centerpiece of Mitten Masterpiece’s presence at the festival will be the 20-foot-wide paint-by-number mural, designed specifically for the event.
Festival visitors of all ages will be invited to participate by painting small numbered sections of the mural throughout the week. As the days progress, the artwork will gradually come to life through the contributions of the community.
Once completed, the mural is intended to be preserved and installed somewhere in downtown Traverse City, allowing it to serve as a lasting reminder of the festival’s 100th anniversary and the thousands of people who helped bring it to life.
Meet Mitten Masterpiece at the Festival
In addition to the community mural, the Mitten Masterpiece team will also have a booth at the festival where visitors can explore our collection of Michigan-inspired paint-by-number kits and limited edition fine art prints.
Guests will be able to learn more about the artwork, see examples of completed paintings, and take home their own creative experience inspired by the places and culture of the Great Lakes State.
Celebrating Michigan Through Art
At Mitten Masterpiece, our goal has always been to celebrate the places and traditions that make Michigan special. Partnering with the National Cherry Festival—an event that has been bringing people together for a century—is a natural extension of that mission.
We’re honored to help create a piece of artwork that will be shaped not by a single artist, but by an entire community.
If you’re visiting Traverse City during the festival, we invite you to stop by, pick up a brush, and add your own small piece to a mural that will represent the spirit of this historic celebration.
Special Edition National Cherry Festival Designs
To commemorate the festival’s historic milestone, Mitten Masterpiece will also be releasing special limited edition National Cherry Festival–inspired artwork, available exclusively during the celebration. These designs will be offered both as paint-by-number kits and as limited edition giclée fine art prints of original digital illustrations, capturing the spirit of Traverse City, cherry season, and this once-in-a-generation anniversary. Created specifically for the festival’s 100th year, these pieces are intended to serve as lasting keepsakes for visitors who want to remember their time at one of Michigan’s most iconic summer traditions.