Celebrating 50 Years of Knox County’s Scenic Drive: From Kettlecorn to Crafts

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, we sit down with Tom Collopy, a 25-year board member of the Knox County Scenic Drive, to celebrate the event’s 50th anniversary. Held over the first two weekends of October (4-5 and 11-12), this self-guided tour features over 25 diverse stops, from Knoxville’s bustling vendor fair to the family-friendly Galva Farmgate Market and St. Augustine’s charitable pumpkin patch. Despite unseasonably warm mid-80s temperatures and delayed fall foliage, Collopy shares the drive’s enduring appeal, highlighting new additions like Galva’s corn maze and the evolving vendor landscape, which blends traditional crafts with modern resale items. He offers practical tips for navigating rural back roads to avoid traffic, preparing for warm weather, and visiting both weekends for fresh inventory. From butterfly pork chops to kettle corn, the culinary scene adds flavor to this community-driven event. Listeners can plan their visit at knoxcountyscenicdrive.com. [caption id="attachment_686884" align="aligncenter" width="1056"] Tom Collopy, Knox County Scenic Drive. (WGIL)[/caption]