Perhaps hundreds of people showing and selling their wares, and untold numbers of people going for what could be a leisurely drive through the area start this weekend.
The annual Knox County Scenic Drive is the first two weekends in October, starting this Saturday — same as the Spoon River Scenic Drive.
Tom Collopy is chair of the committee that organizes the Knox County Scenic Drive, and tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL you might say it started from humble beginnings.
“I think (it started more than four decades ago) to kind of enjoy the rural heritage,” said Collopy. “The historical sites in Knox County…it was to promote that, I think, and get people out to enjoy the fall foliage and all that.”
Collopy says there are plenty of just scenic stops like the Wolf Covered Bridge as well as the stops where merchandise is available for sale.
And, he says this, year, a stop closer to Galva has been added to the list.
But, Collopy says he wonders if the Scenic Drive’s days may be numbered, because some people just don’t want to be involved.
“Younger people, it seems like, are too busy to get involved, because it is two weekends in a row,” said Collopy. “You have a lot of time commitment prior to those two weekends. So, there’s people that do a lot of things, but don’t want to spend that time.”
Collopy says participating in the Scenic Drive either as a vendor or artist or something else, started out as a hobby for many, and some of those people are starting to retire.
Nevertheless, he says a stop he’s involved with — the Knox County Fairgrounds for instance — has as many vendors as it ever has.
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