TRAVERSE CITY -- Ticket sales began April 6, 2026, for the inaugural Forest to Fork: A Springtime Gathering, a new culinary event scheduled for May 14 through May 17 in the Traverse City region. The gathering features foraging excursions, vineyard walks, cooking classes and seasonal dinners.

The event is designed to showcase springtime foods and pairings through collaborations between local culinary experts and agricultural producers. It is produced by Traverse City Tourism as part of the broader Traverse City Food & Wine festival held annually in August.

Events will be held at more than a dozen venues throughout the region. Local chefs, farmers, artisans and hosts designed the activities to highlight seasonal food and beverage pairings. Specific sessions include "Foraging and Found: A Wild Food Dinner Experience," "Vines and Forest Finds," "An Edible Container Garden Demonstration" and "Morels in Season: An Old World, New World Wine Tasting."

City Food & Wine

Whitney Waara serves as the chief operating officer of Traverse City Tourism. She described the event as a celebration of the relationship between local resources and the community. "This is a tribute to the connection between the land, our culinary culture and the community," Waara said. "In the springtime, with the longer days and the flora waking up around us, the flavors are vibrant and alive. We are excited to bring people together to enjoy some of the unique wild and cultivated foods growing around the region."

The program includes a preview of Bohemian Cellars, a new vineyard in Leelanau County scheduled to open later in 2026. This small-group experience features a walk through nearby woods to uncover mushrooms. Waara noted that the region provides a significant variety of natural ingredients for such activities. "There's nothing like the experience of foraging for the freshest ingredients and tasting them moments later," Waara said. "We have an incredible bounty growing here and experts who know how to bring the flavors and textures together perfectly.

"Forest to Fork was created as part of Traverse City Food & Wine. This five-day culinary festival is produced by Traverse City Tourism and presented by 4Front Credit Union. Mike Kent serves as the public relations manager for Traverse City Tourism, which promotes the area as a destination for leisure and business travel.

Traverse City Tourism

The Traverse City Food & Wine festival is scheduled to take place from Aug. 19 to Aug. 23, 2026. Organizers stated that further details for the August event will be announced soon.

Foraging and Found: A Wild Food Dinner Experience.

Putting it in context

Dining rooms change slowly and then all at once: a new chef, a refurbishment, a shift in the neighbourhood, and suddenly the place has a different identity.

At a glance

  • TRAVERSE CITY -- Ticket sales began April 6, 2026, for the inaugural Forest to Fork: A Springtime Gathering, a new culinary event scheduled for May 14 through May 17 in the Traverse City region
  • The event is designed to showcase springtime foods and pairings through collaborations between local culinary experts and agricultural producers
  • Events will be held at more than a dozen venues throughout the region
  • The program includes a preview of Bohemian Cellars, a new vineyard in Leelanau County scheduled to open later in 2026
  • "Forest to Fork was created as part of Traverse City Food & Wine

What people ask

What should you know about Traverse City Tourism?

Whitney Waara serves as the chief operating officer of Traverse City Tourism.

Why does it matter?

Waara noted that the region provides a significant variety of natural ingredients for such activities.

What happens next?

Events will be held at more than a dozen venues throughout the region.

In short

Whether this marks the start of something larger or simply reflects the moment, it is a fair indication of the direction things are heading.