Currently projected location on the K-64 Bible Music Highway

Trek Thru Truth And River Maze Join Forces For Fall Festival Sept. 16

The Cleveland and Ocoee communities and surrounding areas will come together on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the first annual Trek Thru Truth Fall Festival. The event will be held from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at The River Maze in Ocoee, adjacent to the new scenic Ocoee River Bridge on 64 Highway, featuring music, food, fun activities, and arts and crafts vendors. “We can’t imagine a more beautiful location in this area for a family-oriented event,” said DeWayne Hamby, executive director for Trek Thru Truth, an emerging children’s museum sponsoring the event. “Just being here to view the scenery is amazing, but to add all these fun activities to it just takes everything to another level.” The event is also being co-sponsored by its host location, Ocoee Valley Farms, home of The River Maze, that draws thousands of visitors every fall. Admission to the festival booths, music and food area is free, however guests can purchase wristbands for activities such as the famous corn maze, the Jump Pad, Kiddy Zip Lines, and more. The attraction, owned and operated by Joe and Dianne Fetzer, officially opens on Saturday, Sept. 23. The Trek Thru Truth fall festival is a “sneak preview” of the new maze design and all the fun Ocoee Valley Farms has to offer this year. Inspirational music will fill the air, as the festival hosts a variety of music artists such as Street Revival, the Appalachian String Band, Three Nails, Dr. Bubba and friends, Karly and Kifton Blackwell, on the “Route 60: The Biblical Highway Music Stage,” sponsored by the new film coming to theaters Sept. 18 and 19. Additional sponsors include Ross Construction, Carol Kam, and Caldwell Paving. J103 FM will also be doing a live remote with giveaways during the day. Food vendors will serve up items such as barbecue plates, burgers, specialty sandwiches, flavored ice, kettle corn, and more while a variety of local artisans display their items for sale along the banks of the Ocoee River. With a variety of activities, the event is geared to appeal to all ages. Local architect and Trek Thru Truth President Doug Caywood, who, along with his wife Jill, had the vision for the emerging biblical children’s museum, said the festival is the primary fundraiser for the project for this fall. “In the past, we’ve held galas to share the vision of the project,” said Jill Caywood, Trek Thru Truth planning and events coordinator. “But this year we wanted to open this up to families and get everyone involved in building awareness for the museum.” Sponsorships, wristband proceeds, and vendor fees will help offset the costs of the festival, but guests will also be given the opportunity to donate and partner with the museum through QR codes taking online donations through the day. Doug Caywood sees a great full-circle moment when the museum is completed in the future. “We see our museum drawing people in just like the rafting industry has,” he said. “Families and groups will come to experience what we have to offer and then fall in love with the area that we all call home.”