IOLA, WI (WSAU) — An event born out of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is returning in 2021.
This Saturday hundreds of cars will drive a 90 minute to two-hour route from Iola through Scandinavia, Amherst, Plover, Rosholt, then Big and Little Falls before returning to Iola as part of the Rally for Iola. Executive Director Joe Opperman says they had so much fun organizing the event to replace the 2020 car show that they’ve brought it back and made it bigger.
“The rally was really a well-recieved and fun event,” said Opperman. “It was really too enjoyable and there were too many people that wanted to do it again to not do it again. It has become kind of a spin-off event.”
The 2021 route will be slightly different than the inaugural route in 2020. Opperman says that’s to bring joy and appreciation for the vehicles to different communities. He adds that each year they hope to alter the route to bring other communities into the mix. “That really is something that we can’t do during the show because all the vehicles are here being appreciated and there’s too much traffic. But, that’s really the core of what this event is about. We can literally take the show on the road and treat different people in different areas to what we are all about,” he added.
Anyone is welcome to enter their vehicle no matter how old or new it is. Opperman says they’ll even open it up to those who want to pile the family into a mini-van just to enjoy the cruise route.
Lineup and registration begins at 7 AM in Iola with the first vehicles leaving at 10 AM. Cars should begin to return at around noon. There will also be food trucks and live music on the grounds into the afternoon.
Pre-registration is welcome and vehicles that have pre-registered will get the first choice of shaded parking at the lot. Registration on Saturday morning will be $10 cash. Registration for those who only want to show their car without cruising will be $5, and again priority parking will be given to those who pre-register online. More information about the swap meet, rally route, and flea market vendors can be found here.
