By Eleanor Sevigny
Published in The Burg September 12, 2024
In 2020 Country Corner closed due to the owner, Bruce O’Lantern retiring. While other local businesses offered fall fun such as pumpkin picking at Prairie Moon Farm, The Centennial Fall Festival, etc… the closest corn maze was either in Peoria or the Quad Cities. Not anymore! This year Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery (120 Hidden Drive, Knoxville) is opening their first annual corn maze. Marketing and Event Coordinator Kaylee Reis talked about this new activity they are offering.
Reis has been working at Hidden Hills for four months. She decided to start working at Hidden Hills because “I have a background in marketing. I moved here a year ago with my partner. I was looking for a marketing job. This position came up, so I applied.”
Hidden Hills decided to start offering a corn maze in the fall because “Dave thought it would be fun. He bought a half acre lot to put more grapes in. However, he thought a corn maze would be fun. He has grandchildren and likes giving people good experiences, so why not.”
The corn maze will open on Saturday, September 28 during Hidden Hill’s 6th Annual Sip and Stomp Festival.
“The Sip and Stomp Festival will be from 1 to 7 p.m. We will have live music, a food truck, and stomping on grapes. You can try our new Let’s Jam Strawberry Rhubarb Wine. Tickets for the stomp can be purchased online or at the event for $20. Price of the ticket includes the stomp, t-shirt, and drink. With proof of Sip and Stomp tickets corn maze tickets will be $5 a person. Tickets for the corn maze can be purchased at the winery.” explained Reis.
After the Sip and Stomp “the corn maze will be open every Saturday from 6-7 p.m. in October. Adult admission is $15 with a glass of wine included with the ticket. Child admission is $5. Depending on the weather and number of people interested we might extend the corn maze into November.”
Once you purchase your ticket you can take a “hay ride from the winery to the maze.”
Inside the maze you will encounter “local volunteer thespians making things spooky. Depending on the group will depend on what the volunteers do. For example we’re not going to have jump scares for a group of four year olds. Just add a little bit of a spooky atmosphere to make it festive for Halloween.”
In addition to the thespians there will be “a photo op. This is our first year and we are keeping it simple.”
Reis would like the Knox County community to know “come out and enjoy the corn maze. Celebrate fall!”
For more information about their events check out Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery on Facebook (Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery).
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