Traverse Colantha Walker
Dairy Festival ~ June 9, 2013
Our 4th Annual "Cow Fest," held on the second Sunday in June, will take place on June 9, from 9am-3pm. See you 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! According to a Federal census during that same year, the State average production was only 3,918 lbs. of milk per cow per year! In her lifetime, from 1916 to 1932, her total production was 200,114.9 pounds of milk. Wow!
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.
2013 Festival Schedule
Stay tuned for additional events!
Pancake Breakfast 9-11am
The Traverse City Fire Department, Local 646, will be serving up delicious Pancakes & Bacon, Coffee, Juice, and Moomers Milk to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. $4/adult; $2/kid portion.
Farmers Market 9am-3pm
Find fresh fruits, veggies & herbs, cheeses, eggs, bread, honey, sweets, and other goodies straight from the farm!
Food Vendors 9am-3pm
There will be plenty of options for the whole family, inside & out: Moomers, Left Foot Charley's Right Foot BBQ, Higher Grounds, The Underground Cheesecake Company, Mana, Sweet Asylum, TASTES of Black Star Farms, Shetler Family Dairy, Lil Bo, Cuppa Joe, Trattoria Stella, Zakey & Spanglish. Yum!
Art & Craft Vendors 9am-3pm
Peruse the Piazza for handmade treasures that you simply must have...or head inside to find a bargain or two in The Mercato shops.
Kid's Korner 9am-3pm
Kids of all ages can have fun with art activities from KidzArt, trail tours with HumaNature School, Balloon Twisting, martial arts lessons from ATA Blackbelt Academy, Milk & Cookie Pairings, Face Painting, a Chalk Zone and a Baby Animal Zoo.
Live Moosic & Performances TBA
Participation Parade to Colantha's Headstone* 11am
Stroll along with the Dairy Queen (Evelyn Shelagowski), and the Dairy Princess (Jenna Gale) to Traverse Colantha Walker's resting place by the Historic Barns. Hey kids! Get your kazoos from The Underground Cheesecake Company, so you can play along with the Second Time Arounders during the parade! Are you coming in costume...? It 'll be fun :)
*The round-trip parade walk is 1 mile.
Moomers Wagon Rides Noon-3pm
Hop on the Cow Cart, and tale a scenic ride around the Village Campus and the Historic Barns area.
Wine & Cheese Pairings at Left Foot Charley Noon-3pm
Enjoy three cheeses paired with five wines for $10. There will also be Juice & Cheese Pairings for $3, so the kiddos can do tastings along with Mom & Dad!
Wine & Chocolate or Cookie Pairings at TASTES Noon-3pm
Stop into TASTES of Black Star Farms in The Mercato to try these decadent pairings for $6 each.
Village Merchant Demos: TBA
Recycle Ranger Workshop TBA
The Recycle Ranger will be here to teach you what you can recycle, how to recycle, and how recycling and composting can help
to make the world a better place to live. Meet in the Kid's Korner.
The Great Grilled Cheese Grill-off 2pm
Who makes the Greatest Grilled Cheese Sandwich? You be the judge! Vote for the best sammie, as The Underground Cheesecake Company & Lil Bo defend their titles against K2 Edibles, and Brew. This is gonna be delicious :)
$5 for 4 Sandwich Quarters.
