Kevin Kobleske of West Allis, Wisconsin, admits he has been collecting what some would regard as junk for over 30 years and was looking forward to seeing who would buy some of it over the weekend in St. Charles.
“I wasn’t here when this show started, but I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of turnout we get,” he said while setting up a couple of tables outside Robinson Hall on Friday at the 2026 Nostalgialand Show and Sale at the Kane County Fairgrounds. “I do probably 40 shows a year. For me, I have a little bit of everything from jewelry to glassware to trinkets.”
The Kane County Fairgrounds had a decidedly retro feel over the weekend during the three-day event. A collection of coin-operated slot, gumball and pop machines were available as well as jukeboxes, antique advertising, neon signs, clocks, movie memorabilia and more.
Zurko’s Midwest Productions offered the show. Owner Bob Zurko of Shawano, Wisconsin, said it was meant to draw a wide range of people.
“It’s more than an antique show,” he said. “We have jukeboxes, coin-operated machines, advertising signs, collectables, toys. It’s a fun event.”
He said the event showcases “a lot of one-of-a-kind items.”
“I’ve been doing this for years and people love to come out and treasure hunt at these events,” he said. “The vendors bring in merchandise from all over the Midwest.”
Those setting up Friday at the event as well as others shopping all agreed the motivation for vendors as well as buyers was an attempt to rediscover something from their past.
“Any kind of signage is going to go,” Kobleske predicted. “Sign are really hot right now.”
Greg Cash of Sycamore owns Quarter Mania, and said the name of the business is based on “the fact I used to have a lot of quarter machines – pinballs and jukeboxes.”
“Signs are a very big thing. Signage reminds people of their youth or their grandfather’s youth,” he said.
“These kinds of shows continue to have traction as people are trying to regain their youth, just like an old car or an old motorcycle,” he said.
Don Campbell of South Elgin was an early shopper at the event on Friday and said that he wasn’t in search of anything in particular “but I just love going to these things.”
“Most of the shows I go to now, it’s hard to find some things, as people are holding on to things more as they’re more valuable,” he said. “People come to this because there are things they did see when they were younger but not anymore. People want to see things and the only way to get it is to come out and look.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
