Highland Cows in Michigan: Your Guide to Cuddles, Photos & Festivals with These Shaggy Charmers
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Ever locked eyes with a Highland cow?
These shaggy giants (or ‘hairy coos,’ as they’re affectionately known in Scotland) with their big, soulful eyes and wild, wavy coats have captured hearts all over Michigan.
There really is something mesmerizing about those long horns and their calm, curious gaze that just draws you in. And now, you don’t have to scroll through Instagram to see them.
We’ve found some seriously fun ways to meet these cows in person—from picnicking with one to cuddling up close or diving into a Highland cow festival. Ready? Here’s where to get your Highland cow fix in Michigan!
See Highland Cows in Michigan
Private Cow Picnics at Thunder Acres Highlands
21592 Kimball Rd, Sand Lake, MI
What if I told you that you can lounge in a field, enjoying a gourmet picnic, while miniature Highland cows with impossibly cute bangs graze nearby?. Thunder Acres in West Michigan makes that happen. In fact, they’ve come up with a whole menu of special cow-themed experiences designed to let you get up close with these fluffy giants.
Get 90-minutes of special one-on-one time with the cows by booking either the ‘Picnic in the Pasture Orb’ or the ‘Picnic in the Lavender Field.’ You’ll dine with these furry friends, snap photos, feed treats, and wander through their beautiful gardens. Bonus: Each cow has a name tag, so you’re not just hanging out with “some cow” – you’re bonding with Bessie, Bruce, or whoever steals your heart.
Also offered: Hug-A-Highland Cow Experience as well as Photo Shoot Sessions
As the weather warms up, the fun doesn’t stop. Thunder Acres hosts themed Highland Cow festivals throughout the year, from lavender blooms to harvest celebrations.
upcoming highland cow festivals here
And if you’re feeling creative, keep an eye on their Facebook page for more events like ‘Painting with the Cows’—because, let’s face it, everything’s better with Highland cows around.”
Highland Cow Carnival Days at Szymanski’s Creekside Acres
8101 Larned Rd, Port Austin, MI
“I went to a carnival and met a Highland cow” isn’t something you say every day—unless you’ve been to Szymanski’s Creekside Acres for their popular Highland Cow Carnival. Let me paint the scene: this festival serves up carnival games, delicious food trucks, and, of course, three photogenic Highland cows ready to say ‘cheese.’
This year, the carnival is happening on July 12 & 13, 2025. July 12 is already sold out, so they’ve added Sunday, July 13, 2025. Act fast to grab your tickets and mark this unique event on your calendar!
What to expect:
- Carnival Games & Activities – Tickets are available for games, and there’s plenty of fun for all ages
- Food Trucks & Sweet Treats – Grab a snack from local food trucks or head to their little retail store for some ice cream, cotton candy, and more
- Meet the Highland Cows – Come meet and take photos with 3 adorable Highland cows! You’ll even have the chance to interact with them up close, as the cows will take turns posing for pictures.
- Petting Zoo
- Highland Cow Cookie Decorating & Craft Classes – Get creative with a Highland cow-themed cookie decorating class and a craft class
- Dunk Tank for a Good Cause – FFA fundraiser alert! Take a chance to dunk a volunteer in the tank and support North Huron FFA.
Pro Tip: This event sells out quickly, so be sure to grab your tickets in advance. No walk-ups allowed! Tickets are just $5 (kids under 4 are free).
Sharp Farm Offers Themed Highland Cow Photoshoot Backdrops
7074 Grand Blanc Rd, Swartz Creek, MI
Located near Flint, you can rent out this vintage-styled photo venue to get private farm access for your perfect cow photoshoot. Think rustic potting sheds, colorful flower fields, classic vintage trucks, a VW bus, and, of course, their lovable Highland cows.
You bring the camera (or photographer), and Sharp Farm provides the idyllic scenery to capture the magic. The cows are ready to be the stars of your shoot, whether you’re going solo or bringing the whole crew along.
Need an even more personalized experience? Book a private session and take your time getting that perfect shot with the cows.
Want more info? Call them at (810) 853-0003.
Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm: A Triple Threat of Fuzzy Friends
2706 East Stevenson Lake Road, Clare, MI
Can’t decide between Highland cows, reindeer, or alpacas? At Rooftop Landing, you don’t have to choose. This Clare farm is home to all three, making it the perfect spot for animal lovers looking to meet some of Michigan’s cutest residents.
During your visit, you’ll get the chance to feed and snap photos with their adorable miniature Highland cows, while also hanging out with their friendly reindeer and alpacas. As if that wasn’t enough, the farm’s calendar is full of seasonal surprises, from Santa parachuting in to Scottish Highland Cow Day, complete with bagpipers!
And before you leave for home, head to their cozy café for some hot chocolate and freshly baked donuts.
Mini Mitten Acres: Get Your Highland Cow Cuddles Here
3328 S State Rd, Davison, MI
Some days, you just need to hug something fuzzy, and Mini Mitten Acres totally gets it. This farm offers Michigan’s most hands-on Highland cow experience, letting you brush, cuddle, and even walk their adorable miniature Highland cows.
Book a “Cuddle-a-Cow” session (available May through August) and enjoy 30 minutes of one-on-one time with these shaggy charmers. And it’s not just cows—you’ll also get to meet the mini horses, ducks, and chickens roaming the farm.
Planning a special event? Mini Mitten Acres also offers a “Party-in-the-Pasture” option for everything from birthdays to gender reveals. Plus, they have a picture-perfect greenhouse, The-Red-Bow-Studio, that changes with the seasons, so you’ll have plenty of beautiful backdrops for those for your camera reel.
Want to pack it all into one day? Don’t miss their annual Highland Cow Festival on July 20, 2025, where you can experience all the farm fun in one udderly awesome celebration.
The Highlands at Harbor Springs: A Bit of Scotland in Northern Michigan
Harbor Springs, Michigan 600 Highlands Drive, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Sometimes the best Highland cow encounters happen where you least expect them. Take The Highlands at Harbor Springs, for example. It feels like a secret, but if you know where to look, you’ll find these shaggy charmers hanging out at a ski and golf resort in Northern Michigan.
When you visit, keep an eye out, and you might catch them grazing near the resort’s main entrance. Their pasture is located just down the road from the equestrian area.
And, if you bring a few old carrots along, they might just mosey over to the fence for a little hello.
Ready to Meet those Shaggy Charmers?
By now, you’re probably daydreaming about a picnic with a fluffy coo and itching to meet these Highland cows. Great! That means we did a good job writing this article.
In all seriousness, these cows are more than just cute—they’re a great excuse to take a break, slow down, and enjoy something a little out of the ordinary. Ready to meet them? Drop us a line and tell us about your Highland cow adventure!
