Iola Car Show Search Results

Learn about the non-profit Iola Old Car Show, Inc. and it's mission! Mission Statement: Together, we leverage the power of vehicles to create memories and transform lives. How did we get here, and what does it mean? Humble beginnings... In 1972, Chet sent out a simple letter inviting a few friends to an afternoon hosted by the Iola Lions. About 20 cars gathered on the grass near Lake Iola to chat about the Old Cars Weekly publication that was started just the year before. Just like that, the event was launched and in a matter of just a couple of years had grown so much in size and popularity it outgrew the park. In 1976 the event migrated to its current location, surrounding the growing Krause Publications operation, where it was becoming the premier swap meet in the Midwest. It relied heavily on support from local organizations to manage parking, food services, garbage and other event hosting needs, and in 1984 was incorporated as Iola Old Car Show, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Charitable Non-Profit Corporation. At the time of transition to 501(c)(3) in the mid 1980s, efforts were being led by 4 community organizations, including Iola Lions Club, Iola Fire Department, Iola Winter Sports Club and Iola-Scandinavia Jaycees. All of which have an interest in serving our community through their charitable efforts. As the crowds kept growing, naturally more help was needed, and the Community Organizations grew to 13, adding Iola American Legion, Iola Conservation Club, Iola Hospital Auxiliary, Norseman Snowmobile Club, Ogdensburg Fire Department, Sons of Norway, Stevens Point Old Car Club and the Waupaca VFW. Over time, more than 100 additional community organizations have been added to the ranks to assist in making our flagship event possible. We are all working together to positively impact our community. Those organizations gather volunteers to help operate the various jobs during the event, and the organizations receive proceeds from the event. To date, Iola Old Car Show, Inc has issued more than $9 million to those volunteer organizations and community projects. Here's a list of the community organizations who volunteer to increase their charitable giving. Donate Volunteer 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable Organization Our Community 52 years of giving back. Economic Impact and Community Development Know More Focusing on the next generation. Education Learn More Our reach extends far beyond our little town. The Magic of Iola Read More

The Iola Car Show is magic to so many people. Read here to see why we think it's the greatest car show and swap meet. The Magic of Iola There is something magical and incredibly important that happens when you enter these grounds. We want you to pay attention to it and take a part of it with you wherever you go when you leave. These grounds are not a digital space, where algorithms serve you content to keep your attention and deliver you ads, and where extreme views go viral and are represented as mainstream. We are living in a time that many forces seek to keep us divided, and polarization among people is at an all-time high. On these grounds, members of our local communities who don’t always get along and who don’t always see eye to eye put their differences aside to work hand in hand serving the tens of thousands of participants we welcome to the community one week each year. On these grounds, participants come from all across America and beyond, all with different views on politics, values, religion, and more. For more than 50 years, we have come together to share and experience the things that bring us all together instead of focusing on the things that drive us apart. When you are here with us, you are with your neighbors and family. You are connecting with people face to face. Take the time to realize and enjoy just how much we all have in common, and how many positive things we share. More importantly, take that sense of human connectedness back with you when you leave, and share it with others. Welcome Home to Iola.

The Iola Car Show is looking to partner with Faulks Brothers Construction on a non-metallic mine to flatten a parking lot.

Education and supporting the youth at the Iola Car Show Education Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire. Iola Old Car Show, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the history of the automobile and related historical culture. The event serves in educating participants and the public about the past, present and future innovation of all things “car culture.” The Iola Car Show and Swap Meet provides a bridge between all generations of people, creating a live platform for the talking/teaching/touching/experiencing of all things auto/culture related past and present. It also provides a point of commerce between buys/seller/builders/collectors or parts and complete examples on the vehicles and associated parts, tools, equipment, advertising, memorabilia and pop-culture over those periods. The process of planning and executing the event is also the catalyst for an unbelievable educational experience through volunteerism. For more than 50 years, “Iola” the event has instilled and fostered a sense of community service in tens of thousands of individuals from central Wisconsin communities, representing several generations. For many in the region, volunteering for Iola beginning in their youth helped them develop an understanding of hard work, team work, and community pride. Outside of the annual event, Iola Old Car Show, Inc. is involved in educational experiences with local school programs including trade training/experiences, DECA and more. GearKids is a youth/educational segment of the operation aimed at attracting and educating young people during the event.

Get to know the incredible team behind the Iola Car Show! Meet Our Team! Executive Director Joe has been involved with the car show since he was just a little guy. He remembers joining his classmates helping on the grounds during the summer as a school activity. Joe was promoted to Executive Director after the 2019 show and is so excited to continue the great tradition of directors before him! You can reach out to Joe for sponsorship and partner opportunities at joe@iolaoldcarshow.com . Director of swap Matt is the newest addition to the team, climbing on board Sept. 2022! Matt is an avid gearhead himself and has been attending the show for the past 13 years as a vendor himself! Matt has a beautiful '56 Chevy he restored with his wife and two boys. You can reach Matt at matt@iolaoldcarshow.com to chat swap! Contracts & event Manager Julie has been with the car show for over 10 years. She began her employment with us as part-time office help and soon after transitioned into a full time position. Julie's primary focus is the development of the sponsorship program and she enjoys building relationships with both new and existing sponsors . Contact Julie at julie@iolaoldcarshow.com to discuss sponsor opportunities. Managing Director If you follow social media, you'll recognize this face! Ali volunteered in 2019 and became part of the staff in 2020. She works with Facebook, the website and our email blasts! You'll also find her at other car shows promoting us! Contact Ali at ali @iolaoldcarshow.com for all things marketing. Liz is one of the newer additions to the Iola Car Show family! An involved local, Liz works for multiple business to assist with their bookkeeping. We are so excited to have her as part of the team! Contact Liz at elizabeth@iolaoldcarshow.com for accounting questions. accounting volunteer coordinator Alan is our new volunteer coordinator! A retired teacher, Alan wanted a fun-filled, part-time job and boy did he get everything he asked for and more! Alan has jumped into handling all things with our volunteers with grace. If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to Alan at alan@iolaoldcarshow.com . Gearkids program Coordinator Hayden is our college help who is an amazing team player (and an incredible baker)! You might see him prepping the grounds for the show, or travelling with Ali to other events, and now you'll see him heading up the youth outreach program. Contact Hayden at hayden @iolaoldcarshow.com for any youth-related event ideas! PIT Crew Earl, Paul and Shawn make up our revered Pit Crew. These gentleman are the heart and soul of the show. During the show you can find them "putting out fires" (in the figurative sense, hopefully) and in the off-season they are remodeling, repairing and improving all that is needed to keep the buildings and grounds in tip-top shape! We also employ seasonal help in preparation for the show - both retired adults and high school students!

Venues available to rent at the Iola Car show for weddings, graduation parties, family reunions and all other celebrations! Iola Car Show Venue Rentals Outside of the car show, and a few weeks before and after, we rent out our facilities. If you are planning an event from May to October, take a look at our venues to see if they fit your need. Special Exhibit Room This newly renovated space can accommodate up to 660+ guests. Boasting a sleek, modern aesthetic with epoxy flooring and a black-gray color scheme, it’s the ideal venue for weddings, graduations, and other special occasions. Otto's Bar This classic bar features multiple cocktail tables, a biergarten and is right next to the Special Exhibit Room. Host a party in this room for 40+ people or include it with your celebration in the Special Exhibit Room1 Activity Center Hall As our largest venue, this is a great space for your big wedding or gathering! 745 people can fit in this space and it is available for day or weekend rentals. Activity Center Meeting Room This intimate venue can hold 100+ people and is perfect for those baby showers, group meetings or family cookouts. Barn The Iola Car Show Barn is the perfect setting for that rustic event. This 200+ venue allows for beautiful weddings and is great for that family gathering. There is plenty of camping at this venue, so grab the family and get together at the Barn. Review Our Contract Take a look at our contract to see if any of the Iola Car Show venues are right for your event! We also have a list of items available for your celebration. Venue Rental Contract This contract shows pricing and capacity for all venue rentals. Click on the contract to view. Itemized Rental List Beyond the venue, we carry many items for rental to enhance your event! Special Event Venue Rental Do you want to host an event at the Iola Car Show grounds? We can provide the space for your music festival, community event, or a family reunion camping weekend. We have the space, and you have the ideas. Check out our contract to get started! Pricing is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on your event's specific needs. Click here for the Special Event Contract! First Name Last Name Email Let us know the desired venue, date of the proposed event, and any details! Send Thanks for submitting! We will be in touch within a few days. Want to Learn More? Iola Car Show Office 350 Chrome Place Iola, WI 54945 715-445-4000 ali@iolaoldcarshow.com

Check out Iola Car Show swag today! Get your nostalgia on with all past and present car show items. Iola Car Show Merch Store The post- Iola Car Show 2025 sale is LIVE ! All items will ship out in mid-August. There is no in-store shopping. If you are local and want to pick-up, just leave a note in the checkout and we will coordinate pick-up for the same days as shipping in mid-August!

Check here for the most frequently asked questions for the Iola Car Show! Frequently asked questions When is Iola 2026? The Iola Car Show & Swap Meet will be held July 9th-11th, 2026! What is the cost for spectators? Admission for 1-day is $20 and 3-day is $30. All children 12 and under are free! Parking provided by the Iola Car show is free and a complimentary bus service is included. Follow the signs to Gate #19 for free parking. We do offer discounts starting in January so join our email list or follow us on socials to know when those are happening! What are the hours for the Iola Car Show? Hours during the car show; Gates open at 7 AM for spectators and close after the concerts. Office hours for the car show during the off-season are 8 am until 4 pm, Monday thru Friday. Can I bring my pet? No, pets are not allowed. The Iola Car Show is not a safe environment for animals due to the heat, sounds, and crowds. Only ADA compliant service animals are allowed on the grounds. DEFINITION OF A SERVICE ANIMAL Q1. What is a service animal? A. Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability. Q2. Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA? A. No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. How do I rent a mobility scooter? Located near Gate #1, scooters can be rented through Vista Mobility. Click here (https://www.vistamobility.net/checkout-reservation/?checkout=502&evt=49&pattr=sc)to reserve yours today! Or give them a call at 262-677-2696. Rentals start at $70/day. https://www.vistamobility.net/(https://www.vistamobility.net/) How do I rent a golf cart? Our golf cart rentals are managed through Jim's Golf Cars. Registration and rentals are right inside Gate #1. https://rent.jimsgolfcars.com/reedsville-wi/july-9th-11th-iola-car-show-4-passenger-gas(https://rent.jimsgolfcars.com/reedsville-wi/july-9th-11th-iola-car-show-4-passenger-gas) https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c9114_d084d34dcc514b19aabb10d697c8e473~mv2.jpg How do I register my own Golf Cart to bring to the show? New for this year - You MUST pre-register your golf cart for Iola 2026. There will be no day-of registration for private golf carts. UTVs/ATVs are not allowed in the show grounds until after 6 pm. Registration for a personal/private golf cart is $50. Registration must be done online prior to July 1st. If you participate in the show, you can register your golf cart through our online system - https://iola.expocad.com/Account/Login.(https://iola.expocad.com/Account/Login) If you are a spectator wanting to bring a golf cart, this needs to be done through our ticketing website - https://www.scan2scan.com/show/iola-car-show-swap-meet-2026#!/(https://www.scan2scan.com/show/iola-car-show-swap-meet-2026#!/) Where is the handicap parking located? Handicap parking is locate at Gate #1 on County Road J. This is where the mobility scooters are located. There will also be limited handicap parking at Gate #5 on HWY 161. Where can I stay when attending the show? If you're into camping, we offer 20'x30' and 20'x50' spaces available! See our webpage for more info; https://www.iolaoldcarshow.com/camping (https://www.iolaoldcarshow.com/camping) If you'd like a hotel, check out this area accommodations file below! The Iola Car Show does not have a block of rooms or discounts for using area hotels. AirBnB (https://www.airbnb.com/)& VBRO (https://www.vrbo.com/)are always great options to look at for a home away from home! What are the future dates of the Iola Car Show? 2026 - July 9-11 2027 - July 8-10 2028 - July 6-8 2029 - July 12-14 2030 - July 11-13

The Central Wisconsin Economy, the premier regional economic development organization in central Wisconsin, calculated a total economic impact of up to $30 million for Waupaca County and the 6 contiguous Wisconsin counties resulting from the Iola Car Show event each year. Economic Impact Along with charitable giving, the Iola Car Show has an incredible economic impact for central Wisconsin. That isn’t something we take lightly. Together with key volunteers, our small staff of office and grounds personnel work year-round planning, developing and maintaining the annual event and related support infrastructure. A recent economic impact study concluded the annual event is responsible for as much as $25-$30 million for Waupaca County and the six connected counties. This is the equivalent of approximately 250 full-time jobs right here in the center of Wisconsin. Read the Economic Impact Study Here . Because of the notoriety and natural association between “Iola” the national known event, and “Iola” the community, it is our mission to continue to develop and maintain the annual event and our surrounding communities to ensure sustained viability now and into the future. We are a community resource for support through funding, concept development and so much more.