History of Zion’s Nostalgia Days!

Nostalgia Days was the brainchild of Chris Szymanski. In 1987, when he was affiliated with the old Zion Business Association, he suggested that in conjunction with the then Annual Gypsy Days Sidewalk Sale that an antique and classic car show be held along with various activities relating to nostalgia. Various members of the association supported Chris’s idea and the Nostalgia Days Festival was born!

In 1987, our first year, after ONLY six weeks of planning, 80 cars registered and participated in the car show.

Since then we have had as many as 600 antique and custom automobiles participate in any given year. This increase can be attributed to the organizational efforts of the Nostalgia Days committee, who have worked tirelessly to ensure a successful car show.

Immediately following the car show there is a Sheridan Road Cruize where participants of the car show,parade up and down Sheridan Road in reminiscence of the “Good Ole Days” when “Cruizing” was a popular phenomenon among the youngsters of that era.

Today, people line up and down the Sheridan Road in their blankets and lawn chairs in anticipation of the
Sheridan Road Cruize and the Outdoor Movie!

At the Nostalgia Days Festival, you’ll find the area’s best food vendors, car related vendors, children’s games, a Live DJ, live radio broadcasts, live entertainment.

Lastly, the Nostalgia Days Committee greatly acknowledges the City of Zion, the Zion Park District, and the many corporate sponsors for their cooperation in making this event possible.