IOLA – For the second year in a row, the Iola Car Show is ranked in the top 10 car shows in the nation by USA TODAY readers.
The national newspaper announced May 7 its list of “Thrills ‘n’ Wheels,” featuring the top 10 winners in Best Air Show, Best Attraction for Car Lovers, Best Boat Show, Best Car Show, Best Motorsports Race, Best NASCAR Track and Best Rodeo.
The Iola Car Show ranked seventh in the country for Best Car Show. The event came in eighth in the same category in 2024.
USA TODAY highlights the best places and attractions in travel, food, drink and lifestyle through its USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. A panel of industry experts nominate their favorite places and attractions across a wide range of categories, then 10BEST editors look into each nomination and select a set of nominees that readers vote on for four weeks.
The winner description for the Iola Car Show highlighted one of the oldest car shows in the country.
“One of the longest-running car shows in the country, the Iola Car Show brings in more than 130,000 attendees each summer to check out 2,500 show cars, 4,000 swap spaces and 400 car corral spaces,” the description said. “Then there’s the concerts, special guests and other activities throughout the weekend. The 2025 event has a special focus on 4×4 vehicles.”
The 2025 event
This year’s Iola Car Show & Swap Meet 2025 will run from 7 a.m. July 10 through 11 p.m. July 12 at 350 Chrome Place in Iola, celebrating 53 years of the event.
The special exhibit theme is “4x4Fun,” and the event will feature celebrity appearances, special vehicle unveilings, sponsor displays, kids activities, concerts including the Spicy Tie Band and more.
Tickets are $20 for one-day admission or $30 for three-day admission. Cash and credit cards are accepted at all gates.
History of the Iola Car Show
The Iola Car Show Inc. is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to “leverage the power of vehicles to create memories and transform lives.”
It started in 1972 when Chester Krause wrote a letter inviting old car enthusiasts to bring their unique cars to a pork roast event hosted by the Iola Lions Club. The event arranged a car display area for people to enjoy. According to Iola Car Show’s website, about 20 cars gathered at the event and attendees chatted about the Old Cars Weekly publication that premiered the year before. The event continued year after year and soon outgrew the park.
The event moved to the current Iola Car Show grounds in 1976 and continued growing, operating with support from local organizations to handle parking, food service, garbage and other event needs. In 1984, it became incorporated as a nonprofit organization.
For more information, visit iolaoldcarshow.com or find Iola Car Show on Facebook.
Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Iola Car Show ranked in 10 best car shows in the country by USA TODAY 10BEST in 2025
Reporting by Caitlin Shuda, USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin / Stevens Point Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
