The commercial landscape of Zion includes a vibrant downtown business area (along Sheridan Road, between Illinois Rt. 173 and Wadsworth Road) with a variety of small, independent stores as well as many larger retail and commercial operations around the rest of the city. And there’s room for growth. According to our recent feasibility study, more than 22,000 thousand cars pass through downtown Zion daily. The Zion area (including Zion, Winthrop Harbor and Beach Park) represents a customer base of 40,000. Anecdotally, we’ve heard time and again from new business owners that retail and restaurant sales easily meet and, in most cases, exceed projections. But that’s not surprising when you calculate the sheer volume of people that pass through the city. Aside from residents and commuters, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Zion each year. Consider the following: Illinois Beach State Park—This park is the most visited of any of the Illinois state parks, attracting more than 2,000,000 visitors annually. The park is also home to the Illinois Beach Resort and Convention Center, a 96-room full service hotel and the only convention center with direct Lake Michigan beach access in the Great Lakes area. North Point Marina (Winthrop Harbor) - The marina has 1,500 slips that are full from early May through the end of October. The marina and northern beaches attract more than 1,000,000 visitors per year. Nostalgia Days/Classic Car Show - In its 17th year, the festival attracts nearly 20,000 visitors from across the nation each year making Zion's event the largest car show in the Midwest. Cancer Treatment Centers of America - Offering state of the art cancer treatment and care to visitors from around the world. More than 200 patients and family members arrive each week and stay in the Zion area from five days to six weeks. Budweiser National Jet Ski Championship - Each summer, thousands of jet-skiers and jet ski-enthusiasts flock to Zion and stay at the state park for the competition. The Festival of Lights - Each evening throughout the month of December, residents and visitors of Zion enjoy The Festival of Lights, a spectacular display of more than 300 freshly cut, lighted Christmas trees and other holiday season displays. Hundreds of people from all over northeastern Illinois visit the festival each year enjoy Kringle's Toy Kingdom brought to life by volunteers and business owners. Directly across from the castle entrance children can visit Santa in his own warm and cozy Kringle Cottage.