The Iola-Scandinavia area offers boundless recreation opportunities and attractions not to be missed. Click on the links here to learn more about the Iola Winter Carnival, Iola Car Show & Swap Meet, Scandinavia Corn Roast, and more!
These include:
IOLA WINTER CARNIVAL – Held the first weekend in February, this winter festival celebrates the area’s Norwegian heritage as well as winter activities. It features a Friday evening fat bike race held on lighted trails, a ski jumping competition on Sunday, skijouring, and kids’ cross-country skiing, all held at Iola Winter Sports Club. Downtown Iola events include an ice-sculpting contest, Chili Walk & Contest, craft show, rosemaling demonstrations, Norwegian pastries sale, plus kids’ ice-fishing contest on Lake Iola. A Norwegian dinner, including lutefisk and Swedish meatballs, and Norwegian pastries, is held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Saturday. Iola Winter Carnival raffle tickets are sold around the area and at the ice-sculpting, held at Chet Krause Legacy Park. For more information on skiing events, go to www.iolawintersportsclub.org. Like Iola Winter Carnival on Facebook for up-to-date info on all Winter Carnival events.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE – Conducted by Sheveland-Taylor American Legion Post 14, Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony at American-Legion Park, downtown Iola. The event starts at 10:30 a.m.
MEMORIAL DAY PORK ROAST – Since 2014, Iola Historical Society’s annual pork roast on its campus on Depot Street in Iola is held immediately following the Memorial Day ceremonies downtown. All military veterans are invited and receive a free meal for their service to our country. All historical society buildings are open to the public at no charge for you to enjoy before or after your meal.
ANNUAL PORK ROAST DINNER – The Scandinavia Volunteer Fire Department will hold its Annual Roast Pork Dinner and Raffle in April at the Scandinavia Fire Department Station, from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Dinners include pork, baked potato, coleslaw, roll, and dessert. Advance tickets are available at Premier Community Bank, Tomorrow Valley Co-Op Scandinavia, Silver Lake Lanes, or from any Scandinavia Firefighter. Check the department’s Facebook page for more information.
IOLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY STRAWBERRY FEST –Held on the fourth Sunday in June since 1983. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into Iola’s rich history while enjoying strawberry shortcake at the Iola Historical Society grounds, located just West of Main Street on Depot Street. The Iola Historical Society is also raising funds to restore the original Iola & Northern Depot. Stop in and see the antique fire station, designed after the original facility on State Street in Iola. Three donated fire apparatuses are housed in the new building. Plus, many more historic buildings and museum exhibits are open to the public at no charge.
SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY – July 3 at dusk. Don’t miss the awesome display of fireworks accompanied by patriotic music! The best place to view them is at Taylor Field, which will also have baseball games before the fireworks, along with food and beverages. Raffle tickets with limited ticket sales and cash prizes are available at local businesses and at Taylor Field the evening of the fireworks. All proceeds go to paying for the fireworks. Hosted by the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce since 2004.
IOLA OLD CAR SHOW and SWAP MEET – One of America’s largest Car shows and Swap Meets is held annually on the 2nd weekend of July. Show cars 1990 and older will be classified as Post-War, Pre-War, Modified, Old Cars Young Drivers, All-Original, and Blue Ribbon Concours. The massive Swap Meet with 4,000 vendor spaces provides plenty of opportunities to pick up that last piece for your vehicle restoration, plus lots of other car-related items. The popular Car Corral area contains vehicles from 2000 and older, all for sale. Great food and camping are available on site. Bands, indoor exhibits, and lots more every day! Watch the Iola Car Show web page for new attractions on Friday and Saturday evenings. Parking provided by the Iola Car Show is free, and a complimentary bus service throughout the grounds is included. For more information, call: 715-445-4000 or go to the web page here. E-mail: information@iolaoldcarshow.com
SCANDINAVIA CORN ROAST – Held the first Weekend in August, this is a great family event! All weekend long, enjoy carnival rides and games, great food and refreshments, live musical entertainment featuring all musical genres, Friday’s 5K Cob Run, Saturday’s annual Corn Roast Parade, and ball games. The Corn Roast is on Saturday (sold by the cob) and Sunday (all you care to eat!). Plus, there is a wood sculpting competition and auction, craft fair, a pie social, Tractor Pull Saturday, and Truck Pull Sunday! Saturday & Sunday visit the historic Knoph Cabin, Jole Barbershop museum, and other local historic buildings on the grounds. Located at Ellison Memorial Park Scandinavia, this is a well-rounded family event with something for everyone! Held rain or shine with lots of tents, so you’re covered! For more information, go to www.scandinaviacornroast.com , email scandinaviaboosterclub@gmail.com or like Scandinavia Corn Roast on Facebook.
HIDDEN STUDIOS ART TOUR – Held the first weekend in October, A Tour of Working Studios in Central Wisconsin, booked as “Art Along the Ice Age Trail,” promotes arts in Central Wisconsin. Features studios of nationally known artists. Explore winding roads, quaint communities, and hidden fine art studios – 8 studios, 23 artists – during peak fall foliage. Info www.HiddenStudioArtTour.com.
IOLA FIRE & AMBULANCE FALL FESTIVAL RAFFLE – Held the third Saturday in October, just after Taste of Norway ends, this fun event includes food, drinks, and bucket raffles. Plus, all of the fire and ambulance vehicles will be on display. All proceeds to help with equipment and other needs of this volunteer department.
TASTE OF NORWAY & LOST ARTS FAIR – Held annually since 2007, at the Iola Historical Society Complex, this ethnic celebration features Norwegian pastry making and lefse making, along with free samples and items for sale. Additional food and beverages are available on site, including the Crystal Café’s famous pies. Lost Arts artisans ply their crafts, ranging from rosemaling, blacksmithing, yarn spinning, jewelry making, sewing, and rug-weaving, among other lost arts. Children’s activities will take place in the replica vintage one-room schoolhouse, sponsored by the Sons of Norway’s Norskeland Lodge 5-580 of Iola. All vintage buildings and museums will be open free of charge. Raffle tickets for sale, along with a free raffle for items from local businesses. For more information: www.iolahistoricalsociety. This event coincides with the Hidden Studio Art Tour in Waupaca and Portage Counties. See listing above.
HOP INTO THE HOLIDAYS – This pre-holiday event features various small businesses in the downtown of the village of Scandinavia. Specialty gift shops, outdoor vendors, plus Christmas-themed food and treats at ScandiHus are all within easy walking distance. Held on the Thursday night two weeks before deer season opens.
IOLA LIONS CHRISTMAS PARADE – Held annually since 1998 on the first Saturday of December, the lighted parade starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes down Main Street. Visit with Santa following the parade is at the Iola Historical Society’s Machine Shed on Depot Street. Santa’s visit includes picture opportunities, treats for the kids, and special activities such as writing a letter to Santa and a coloring contest. This event is certain to get you in the mood for the holidays!
OTHER ACTIVITIES & LOCATIONS
GLACIER WOOD GOLF CLUB –Rated #4 in the nation by Golf Advisor for Top Golf Courses Under $50! Pro shop, cart rentals. Glacier Wood is a beautifully designed course that will challenge the novice to expert golfer. Rustic Grill provides a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, and other items, along with daily specials and beverages. Check out the website by clicking on the name above.
BICYCLING – The Iola-Scandinavia area has miles and miles of scenic, lightly-traveled back roads plus trailhead access in Scandinavia to the Tomorrow River State Trail, which extends west to Plover, Wisconsin, and east to Manawa. Casual Monday and Wednesday night bike rides, held May through August, are hosted by local Bike Iola!. For more information on biking opportunities in the area, check Bike Iola’s Facebook page.
PICKLEBALL – Newly built courts are available to the public at the park at Taylor Field.
IOLA CONSERVATION CLUB – Gun and archery practice available along with hunter’s education, gun sight-in days, and special events. Membership is required for gun and archery usage. For more information, go to www.iolaconservationclub.com.
IOLA MILLS – The beautifully restored mid-19th-century grist and sawmill is definitely worth a visit! The mill generates water-powered electricity, and you can see everything in action. The Iola Mills cafe features multiple gelato flavors along with pizza, paninis, salads, and beverages. The Mill has occasional free music events throughout the summer and is also available for weddings and other events. Visit wwwiolamills.com and on Facebook.
IOLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY – Check out the original 1884 Iola & Northern Railway depot (currently being restored), vintage caboose, one-room schoolhouse replica, vintage log cabin, and the original Helvetia Town Hall. The 1901 replica fire station contains Iola’s three original firefighting vehicles. There are also two large museums with a wide variety of artifacts on display, including a fascinating Native American artifacts display from the area dating back to 10,000 B.C. The campus is open on Saturdays, May through August, from Noon to 3:00 p.m. Free admission. See info elsewhere on this site for IHS annual events or go to www.iolahistoricalsociety.com.
IOLA WINTER SPORTS CLUB – (715-445-3411 office, 715-498-8898 cell, iolawintersportsclub@gmail.com): This facility offers ski jumping, cross-country skiing, skijouring, and snowshoeing on groomed trails, including four miles of lighted trails. The IWSC-New Hope segment of the Ice Age Trail has a trailhead just off the main parking lot. Mountain bike trails are being established. A beautiful area to participate in silent sports during any season! The Iola Winter Sports Club began in 1910 and is still going strong! www.iolawintersportsclub.org.
IOLA SCANDINAVIA FITNESS AND AQUATIC CENTER– An awesome facility for your total workout needs. Includes a six-lane lap pool, zero-depth entry leisure pool with an impressive water slide, whirlpool, meeting rooms, gymnasium with climbing wall, and a fitness center with plenty of cardio machines and weight-lifting apparatus. A must-see with a visit to the area. Check out the website by clicking on the facility’s name above for a complete schedule of classes, hours, plus daily and annual rates.
SILVER LAKE LANES– Located on Hwy. 49 just north of Scandinavia, this place has it all. Bowling is a great recreational hobby for young and old alike. League and tournaments, as well as casual bowling, are just down the street.
HUNTING – Our entire area is an ideal habitat for deer, turkey, grouse, and small game. Waupaca County is always one of the top three in Wisconsin for deer harvested during hunting season.
FISHING – Area lakes and streams offer everything from panfish to trout. Lake Iola is a popular lake for winter ice fishing. Most of the small, quiet lakes in the area have public boat landings.
SNOWMOBILING – Miles of groomed trails will lead you anywhere in the county! Several local clubs – Iola Norsemen and Scandinavia Vikings — take great pride in maintaining trails in the area.
CHESTER L. KRAUSE LEGACY PARK – This newly built park spotlights the many local and national contributions of Chester L. Krause, founder of Krause Publications and the Iola Car Show, as well as Iola’s history. Features include a mural of Chet’s history, a bronze statue of him, and a Historic Iola marker highlighting his charitable philanthropy. Walkways, benches, a shelter with seating, bathrooms, and a bubbler — with a doggie bubbler! — are all part of the park, established in 2022. The park is on the corner of Chet Krause Drive and Water Street, just off Lake Iola.
RELAXING – Take a stroll along the Little Wolf River on the Iola Lions River Walk, hit the Ice Age Trail at Iola Winter Sports Club, explore the woods and fields on Gunny’s Trail at Jorgens Park Reserve on Silver Lake in Scandinavia, or just relax in a park and watch the wildlife. There is an osprey nest to view on Silver Lake. The pace slows down when you’re relaxing in Iola-Scandinavia!
And much more to enjoy in the area!