For the Gazette
STEVENS POINT – The numbers for the Iola Car Show are finally in, and it was an impressive year. Beautiful weather and rebounding from a year of closures, the Iola Car Show had a fantastic year. 121,500 people attended the Iola Car Show July 8th-10th.

The parking lots were maxed out with show cars, and pre-registration was higher than is has been.

Executive Director, Joe Opperman, calls this year a “great success” but remains humble and conservative after the 2020 cancellation.

“While this year was one for the books, we had the perfect recipe for a great show. Weather is a major factor in our success and we heard many times over this was the best weather our vendors had seen in their 20, 30 & 40 years of attending the Iola Car Show.” Opperman states. He goes on to say that all events were trending higher than normal with the cancellation of most major events in 2020. “The crowds were massive, excited and understanding of the challenges we were facing. I could not possibly be prouder of the effort and professionalism of the team and workers. Still, after the financial turmoil of last year, our budgets for next year will remain very conservative as we see this as at least a two year recovery.”

Iola plans for the 2021 Rally for Iola on September 18th. The Iola Car Show held a socially-distanced car cruise last year in lieu of the car show. Due to its popularity, this rally is now an annual event. The Rally for Iola will take place on September 18th, 2021. This year will also include a flea market, food truck rally and some live entertainment. The route of the car cruise is also going to change. Opperman states, ““We want to include as many local towns in this car cruise as possible. This year, we hope to take the cruise to Amherst, Plover, Ellis, Polonia, Rosholt and Big Falls.The team thought it would be great to highlight different areas each year, and as this grows, we hope to partner with cities and towns as we cruise through. It’s a wonderful way for our show car participants to share their passion with new people and communities.”

Registration for the flea market and show cars will begin at 12:00 PM on August 2nd. It will be first come, first serve assigned spaces. Registration will close on September 1st at 11:59 PM. Flea market spaces are 10×30 and will be $40 for a non-electric space and $75 for a limited amount of electric spaces. Show cars can pre-register for $5. Pre-registered cars will get prime, shaded parking at Gate #4. Day-of show cars will enter at Gate #3 and will cost $10. Spectators will be $5 online or at the gate.