Are You Ready To Pine Tree ‘26!
The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic returns August 6–9, 2026, for its 41st year — a four‑day celebration of elite tennis, great food, and a community united for a powerful cause. The tournament will once again take place at Life Time White Bear Lake in White Bear Lake, Minn., with the junior tournament held August 7–8 at Life Time Bloomington South. Hosted by the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the event continues its longstanding mission of supporting targeted pediatric oncology research and rehabilitation efforts at Children’s Minnesota and more than 600 hospitals across 66 countries.
A Legacy of Impact
Founded in 1986 by Ron and Mary Ann Peterson in honor of their daughter Julieann, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic began as a grassroots effort to help medical professionals at Children’s Minnesota advance critical cancer research while caring for young patients and now has raised over $8.6 million for the cause.
Tournament Highlights
The 2026 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has its largest field in history and will showcase 200 top mixed‑doubles players from Minnesota, the Upper Midwest, and across the country. Competition spans four adult divisions — Open, Masters (35+), Grand Masters (50+) — and six junior divisions ranging from Green Ball to young adult. Many adult competitors are current or former collegiate athletes, while junior players represent the next generation of tennis talent. All players are encouraged to fundraise, with many raising thousands of dollars individually.
Additional highlights include:
- FREE admission for all spectators (donations encouraged).
- Match schedule:
- Thursday, August 6: First serve at 1:00 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday: Matches begin at 8:00 a.m.
- Championships Sunday: Matches begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Open semifinals and junior finals, followed by the Masters and Grand Masters finals at 12 Noon and the Open finals at 2 p.m. There will also be a brief program featuring our 2026 Honored Patients and their families at 11:45 a.m.
- Opening‑day festivities featuring Happy Hour and Food Tent specials from 1-5 p.m.
- Junior tournament finals on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 12 Noon at Life Time White Bear Lake.
- 300+ volunteers from the community and local tennis programs powering the event.
- Volunteer Give Back Program with USTA Northern — now in its fifth year — providing financial support to high school and college tennis teams. For every hour worked, high school programs receive $10 from an anonymous donor which is then matched by USTA Northern. Another $10 goes directly to the cause. The program has generated over $55,000 for teams and the cause.
- Player fundraising leadership: In 2025, players contributed 75% of all funds raised, totaling more than $350,000, including $50,000 from junior players.
- Proceeds Benefit Children’s Minnesota: Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund presented a $435,000 check to Children’s Minnesota.
More Than Tennis
Spectators can enjoy:
- The beloved Food Tent, featuring fresh apple treats from Pine Tree Apple Orchard and the NEW Apple Cider Aperol Spritz served in a souvenir glass.
- A Silent Auction with exclusive items and experiences including a Meet & Greet with Golden Bachelorette and Bachelor In Paradise star Gary Levinson; a day at the All-Iowa Lawn Tennis Club; an exclusive concert and dinner experience at First Avenue; a private dining experience for 8 at Margaux's Table and more!!!
- The US Open Labor Day Tennis Experience raffle = 3 days of matches and a behind the scenes tour of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY.
- A kids craft area, tournament merchandise, and a Children’s Minnesota‑led kids research initiative — all supporting the mission.
Get Involved
Volunteer and donation opportunities remain open for the 2026 tournament. To learn more, visit www.ptacf.org or contact Lisa Mushett at lisa@ptacf.org. We look forward to seeing you August 6-9 at the 2026 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic!
### Game, Set, Cure ###