- 2024
- Dec
- 22
A look back at 2024’s hamfest and shows.
As we say goodbye to 2024, I took a look at the shows I attended - there were quite a few of them this year, and it surprises me how many of them are in Ohio and the surrounding area. Had time allowed, I could have attended more, but one a month (or thereabouts) is a good schedule. To wrap the year up, here’s a link to all of the pictures from these shows.
I’m looking forward to the coming year’s schedule - you can find that here.
I’ll see you at the show!
Sunday Creek Amateur Radio Federation Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … ek-arf-hamfest-2024/
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … ahoga-falls-hamfest/
TUSCO ARC Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … 4-tusco-arc-hamfest/
Dayton Hamvention
Friday photos: https://wereboar.com … 24-fridays-pictures/
Saturday photos: https://wereboar.com … -saturdays-pictures/
Sunday photos: https://wereboar.com … 24-sundays-pictures/
Breezeshooter’s Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … ooters-2024-hamfest/
Columbus (OH) Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … lumbus-2024-hamfest/
Johnstown Swapper’s Day
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … nstown-swappers-day/
Findlay Radio Club Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … o-club-2024-hamfest/
The Cleveland Hamfest and Computer Show
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … 4-cleveland-hamfest/
The Scioto Valley Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … o-club-hamfest-2024/
MARC Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … e-marc-2024-hamfest/
Fort Wayne Hamfest
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … -fort-wayne-hamfest/
Scott Antique Market - November
Event photos: https://wereboar.com … cott-antique-market/
- 2024
- Dec
- 19
The December Scott Antique Market
The December Scott Antique Market is happening this weekend at the Columbus (Ohio) State Fairgrounds / Expo Center. This is the last show I attend for the year, and I’ll have pictures and a year-end wrapup shortly after.
This show usually has a lot of #radio and other antique electrical and related goods, as well as your standard selection of antiques and other related merchandise. Doors usually open at 9AM on Saturday, but always check before you go.
Admission to the show is free, but the expo charges parking per car.
Scott Antique Market - December
Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds)
717 E 17th Ave
Columbus, OH 43211
December 21 and 22
Hours vary by day, check before you go.
- 2024
- Dec
- 2
My 2025 Hamfest and Show List
As 2024 winds down, I find myself looking forward to the shows in 2025. I’m planning on going to most of the same ones, with perhaps a few new ones if time allows.
As of the date of posting, not all shows have updated their dates for 2025. Check back soon, I will post actual dates as soon as I know about them. Links to pictures will be posted here as soon as I’m done with them, and I’ll do a year-end wrap up as well.
Johnstown Swappers Day and the Scott Antique Market aren’t really hamfests, but enough electrical and other goodies show up that it’s worth going if you’re in to general flea market type items. I’ve added The Cincinatti Hamfest to the list this year, and I may still try to get to the Van Wert show and Kalamazoo show, all depending on how things go. Dayton, of course, is a will-go no matter what, and we may have a table this year.
Sunday Creek Amateur Radio Federation Hamfest
Shade Community Center
2380 Old U.S. 33
Shade, OH 45776
January 19
8A-Noonish
Admission $6
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/sunday-creek-amateur-radio-federation-hamfest-4
Event photos: Coming soon.
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Emidio & Sons Party Center
48 E. Bath Road
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
April 5
8A - 1PM
https://sites.google.com/cfarc.org/cfarc/hamfest
Event photos: Coming soon.
TUSCO ARC Hamfest
Commercial Building at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds
295 South Tuscarawas Ave
Dover, OH 44622
Usually late April
8A - 1PM
https://www.w8zx.net/hamfest
Event photos: Coming soon.
Dayton Hamvention
Greene County Fair and Expo Center - The Whole Thing
210 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
May 16 17 18
Hours vary by day, opens at 9AM
https://hamvention.org
We might have a table at this one for 2025.
Event photos: Coming soon.
Breezeshooters Hamfest
Butler, PA
Butler Farm Show (Kind of a fairgrounds thing)
625 Evans City Rd
Butler, PA 16001
Usually early June
8A - 2PM
https://breezeshooters.org/ns/
Event photos: Coming soon.
Columbus (OH) Hamfest
Aladdin Shrine Center
1801 Gateway Cir
Grove City, OH 43123
Usually the first weekend in August
8A - 1PMish
https://aladdinshrine.org/hamfest/ (website issues at time of posting)
We might have a table at this one, depending on what sells at Dayton.
Event photos: Coming soon.
Cincinatti Hamfest
Clermont County Fairgrounds
1000 Locust Street
Owensville, OH 45160
August 9
8A - 2P
https://cincinnatihamfest.org/
Event photos: Coming soon.
Johnstown Swapper’s Day
Johnstown Community Sportsmen’s Club
7357 Sportsman Club Rd NW
Johnstown, OH 43031
Labor Day Weekend (Fri Sat Sun)
7A - 6P
https://jcscohio.org/swappers-day/
Event photos: Coming soon.
Findlay Radio Club Hamfest
Hancock County Fairgrounds
1017 E. Sandusky St.
Findlay, Ohio 45839
September 7
8A - 1PM-ish
https://www.findlayradioclub.org/
Event photos: Coming soon.
The Cleveland Hamfest and Computer Show
Berea Fairgrounds, Eastland Entrance
160 Eastland Rd
Berea, OH 44107
Date TBA
8A - 12P
https://www.hac.org/
Event photos: Coming soon.
The Scioto Valley Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Pike County Fairgrounds
311 Mill Street
Piketon, OH 45661
Date TBA
8A - 12P
https://www.arrl.org/hamfests/scioto-valley-amateur-radio-club-hamfest-2
Event photos: Coming soon
MARC Hamfest
Military Air Preservation Society Hanger (MAPS)
2620 International Parkway
Green, OH 44232
Date TBA
8A - 1P
http://w8np.net
Event photos: Coming soon
Fort Wayne Hamfest
Allen Country War Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Ave
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Usually the weekend before Thanksgiving
Hours vary by day, opens at 9AM
https://www.acarts.com/hfmain.htm
Event photos: Coming soon
Scott Antique Market November
Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds)
717 E 17th Ave
Columbus, OH 43211
Usually Thanksgiving weekend
Hours vary by day, check before you go.
https://www.scottantiquemarket.com/
Event photos: Coming soon
Scott Antique Market December
Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds)
717 E 17th Ave
Columbus, OH 43211
Usually the weekend before Christmas.
Hours vary by day, check before you go.
https://www.scottantiquemarket.com/
Event photos: Coming soon
Always check dates and times before going, and I’ll see you there!
- 2024
- Dec
- 1
Photos from the November 2024 Scott Antique Market.
This month’s show ended a few hour ago, and I made it out there on a very chilly, windy Saturday morning. For some reason, it opened later this year…some whispers about something that happened with the other show in Atlanta but I couldn’t pin it down. Doesn’t really matter, I guess, we entered about 8:45 and started wandering the not-quite-open aisles.
As usual, the place was packed with vendors and there was a lot to see. Not a whole lot I wanted to take home, but a radio that caught both my and my fellow show-goer’s eye decided to go home with me for a superb price. Check out that device, there will hopefully be a series of posts about making it sing again.
Here’s what we saw at the show:
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Next show is the weekend before Christmas. See you there!
- 2024
- Nov
- 22
Pictures from the 2024 Fort Wayne Hamfest
The show this year was smaller than usual, occupying maybe 3/5 to 3/4 of the normal space, with a large section left empty. Prices at this show ranged from ok to stupid, which is kind of unusual as this show usually features pretty good values. There were a couple that simply were smoking crack and asking prices that would have been appropriate years ago when the equipment was newer.
I primarily went to get a bunch of tubes from Bob at hamtubes.com - he always has really good prices on tubes both rare and common, so that’s where I spent the bulk of my purchase money. A few other things came home with me, including a couple that will get featured here as soon as I can get to them.
There were still good things to see, and here they are:
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That’s it as far as hamfests for 2024 - the next two shows will be the Scott Antique Market events this coming (after Thanksgiving) weekend, and right before Christmas. I may combine those two into one post, depending on what I see.
See you there!
- 2024
- Nov
- 16
Pictures from the Ft. Wayne hamfest on the way!
The Fort Wayne hamfest happened today. The show was kind of mildy disappointing, with somewhat less vendors showing up this year - and some that were simply smoking crack when it came to prices. One in particular made eBay prices look low, and reminded me of the vendor that had those big stainless steel racks of test equipment at Hamvention with astronomical prices on them, rain or shine. I wish them luck in selling, but you’re going to be hard pressed to unload some of that stuff - especially when you can get new equivalents (from the same manufacturer!) for less.
Regardless, there was still some good stuff to see and take home. Stay tuned, pictures are on the way!
- 2024
- Oct
- 31
The 2024 Fort Wayne hamfest
The Fort Wayne hamfest is happening in a couple of weeks. This is a two day event happening November 16th and 17th 2024, and opens at 9AM each day. Admission is $8, and the venue charges a parking fee (this does not go to the show.)
I’ve been to this show many times, it’s all indoors so it doesn’t get snowed out. Prices seem to run average at this one, but there always seems to be a great selection of unusual stuff.
This is the last hamfest I attend for the year, and it makes a nice bookend to the year’s shows.
Fort Wayne Hamfest
Allen Country War Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Ave
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
November 16, 17 2024
Hours vary by day, opens at 9AM
https://www.acarts.com/hfmain.htm
Photos may be delayed a bit due to some obligations the week after, but will be posted as soon as I can get to them.
See you there!
- 2024
- Oct
- 29
Pictures from the MARC 2024 Hamfest
This is a show that I’d never been to, but it was a double treat. The show itself had a decent array of vendors and stuff, and the show was being held at the Military Air Preservation Society hanger, so we were able to tour the grounds as part of our show admission.
I highly suggest you check out the air museum portion, there’s a lot to see. Pictures of that coming soon.
We browsed the aisles for a couple hours, wandering through a few times. I brought home a few books and a small scope, my friend brought home some older high-end audio gear. There were a few other things that caught my eye, but I’ve got enough anchors working right now that I’m good - and the few remaining ones I’d like didn’t show up here.
Regardless, we had a good time and will probably come back next year, time and circumstances permitting.
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Next (and last hamfest of the year) show is Fort Wayne on the 16th of November. See you there!
- 2024
- Oct
- 7
Photos from The Scioto Valley Amateur Radio Club Hamfest 2024
This was a show I’d never been to. It’s certainly a local thing, with a few rows of vendors and a good, but light crowd. Regardless, there was some of that cool stuff you get at shows like this, and I picked up a few books and a boat anchor for my collection of things that hold the floor on the ground. It’s close enough that I’ll probably go next year as well.
Here’s what I saw at the show:
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On the way home, we stopped at a place I didn’t know still existed - one of the few remaining Rax Restaurants.
Next show is the MARC show at the MAPS hanger near North Canton. See you there!
- 2024
- Oct
- 5
Some notes from The Scioto Valley Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
I grabbed a friend and headed down to this show earlier today. It was a pretty small event, but that’s the kind of thing I like to go to - you never know what you’re going to find. We even stopped at (the last?) Rax on the way home.
I didn’t pick up much - some books, some parts, and this Heathkit Audio generator with a parts donor unit.
I’m asking it for 60Hz, and getting 59.7. That’s pretty good for a piece of 50 year old equipment. It’s a simple capacitive oscillator, so there’s not much to go wrong - exactly what you need for your bench. It’s certainly in need of service, but what do you expect?
Pictures from the event are on the way, so stay tuned!