Our Annual “Cow Fest” celebrates Traverse Colantha Walker and is held on the second Sunday in June and will take place on June 12th from 9am-3pm on The Piazza!

We will celebrate Colantha’s historic accomplishments, as well as the urban renewal of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a Traverse City landmark. What a wonderful community full of fun-loving foodies, locavores, farmers, artists, preservationists, and environmentalists who bring our Village-wide, family friendly, day-long festival to life.

Colantha’s Story

Of the 96 Holstein-Friesian cows that comprised the former Traverse City State Hospital’s herd, Colantha was by far the most prolific. In 1926, she produced 22,918 pounds of milk in a single year, making her the highest producer in the world! In her lifetime, from 1916 to 1932, her total production was 200,114.9 pounds of milk. According to a Federal census during that same year, the State average production was only 3,918 lbs. of milk per cow per year!

Colantha was so revered by hospital staff and patients that upon her death in 1932, a banquet was held in her honor, and a beautifully carved memorial stone was placed at her gravesite near the south end of the Commons property.

The former hospital facility, complete with magnificent historic buildings, massive barns, farmland and crop-land, was built in 1884 and remained in operation until 1989. The facility prided itself in becoming virtually self-sustainable through careful management of its crops and livestock. It is here, near the site of the historic cathedral barn, where Colantha Walker spent her bucolic life, lovingly tended to by the renowned staff and caretakers of the historic barns.

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2016 Schedule of Events

Pancake Breakfast 9-11am

$4/adult; $2/kid portion.

Arts & Crafts and Farm Market Vendors 9am-3pm
Find fresh fruits, veggies & herbs, cheeses, eggs, bread, honey, sweets, and other goodies straight from the farm along with handmade treasures that you simply must have…or head inside to find a bargain or two in The Mercato shops.

Food Vendors 10am-3pm

Kids Korner 9am-3pm

Stop by every hour to participate in fun kid/cow friendly events!

Local vendors that will be participating:

Scrap TC

Sip & Dab

The Botanic Gardens

Live Moosic From Deep Greens & Blues 10am-1:30pm

Cow Pie Eating Contest Sponsored by MI Farm Market 11:30am – 12:30pm
Free pie eating competition with categories for Kids & Adults!  Sign up the day of the Festival at The Village tent.

The Great Grilled Cheese Grill-off 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Who makes the Greatest Grilled Cheese Sandwich? You be the judge! Vote for the best sammie as MI Farm Market, The Cheese Lady, ELF & Cuppa Joe all compete in a battle royale for the second year in a row.  MI Farm Market is looking to defend their title and The Cheese Lady, ELF and Cuppa Joe are looking for VICTORY!  This gonna be delicious! $5

Wagon Rides 10am-3pm
Hop on the Cow Cart, and take a scenic ride around the Village Campus and the Historic Barns area.

Participation Parade to Colanthas Headstone  2pm 

After Glow at The Botanic Gardens  3pm-5pm

Live music, refreshments, children’s story time, and tours of the new gardens and historic barns will be part of the anniversary fun for Traverse City’s favorite bovine.  The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park is a year-round garden dedicated to environmental preservation, education, and recreation.  Situated within Historic Barns Park on the grounds of The Grand Traverse Commons, the Botanic Garden is located at 1490 Red Drive in Traverse City.

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Visit Traverse Colantha Walker Dairy Festival Website >>>>

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