- 2025
- Jan
- 20
The SCARF 2025 hamfest in Shade, Ohio.
This is my second year going to this show. It’s a small show, and was a bit smaller than last year - probably due to the fact that it was snowing like crazy when we left, and that probably kept some people away. Regardless, it still had that nice cozy feeling to it, and there was plenty to see for a small show. I picked up a set of Heathkit test equipment, mostly for one of the pieces (but the whole set was cheap!) and my fellow show-goer picked up a nice Dell i7 4th micro machine for his home entertainment center.
Here’s what I saw that was interesting at the show:
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Not a lot of pictures because of the size of the show. This year’s theme seems to be starting out with AM CB stuff again, much like last year - it’s literally everywhere, everything from big base stations to modern car portables. That’s probably going to be like PC compatible stuff and videotape was some years ago - things changed, and people are cleaning out until it’s gone.
There’s a couple of shows in February and March, but the next one I’ll probably hit is the Cuyahoga Falls show in April. That gives me some time to go through the things I have. It’s “fix and keep” or “get rid of” time, and having a couple of months with no new stuff coming in will help.
See you at the hamfest!
- 2025
- Jan
- 3
The Sunday Creek Amateur Radio Federation Hamfest - January 19th
The first show of the season is a small hamfest in Shade, Ohio - a little town about 90 minutes south of Columbus. Last year was the first time I attended this one, and I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t big, but had a couple dozen vendors, with a nice, warm “get out of the cold and get cozy” feeling to the place. It attracted quite a few people, and I walked out with a few decent deals. I’m looking forward to this one.
There is a chance of snow throughout the day, so take your time if you go.
See you there!
Sunday Creek Amateur Radio Federation Hamfest
Shade Community Center
2380 Old U.S. 33
Shade, OH 45776
January 19
8A-2P
Admission $6
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/sunday-creek-amateur-radio-federation-hamfest-4
- 2024
- Dec
- 28
It’s that time of year - get your Dayton Hamvention tickets early!
Tickets for the Dayton Hamvention are currently on sale at the early boar price of $26 - this is good until March 1st, at which point they’ll go to the normal $30.
You can order online for convenience, and doing so now allows plenty of time for the postal service to deliver them to you - especially if you’re not in the USA.
See you there!
Tickets: https://hamvention.org/purchase-tickets/
- 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. I have quite a list this year, but I expect some of them will have to slip simply due to time constraints. One in particular, the 2025 Tri-State Radio Fest, may conflict with the TUSCO ARC show, so it’s a decision on what to attent.
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: https://wereboar.com … mfest-in-shade-ohio/
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Emidio & Sons Party Center
48 E. Bath Road
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
April 5
8A - 1PM
Admission $8
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
June 8
8A - 2PM
https://breezeshooters.org/ns/
Event photos: Coming soon.
Columbus (OH) Hamfest
Aladdin Shrine Center
1801 Gateway Cir
Grove City, OH 43123
August 2 (Not officially announced yet)
8A - 1PMish
https://aladdinshrine.org/hamfest/ (website 404 at time of posting)
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
September 28
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!
Late additions (all of these may not be a go, but look interesting):
Central Pennsylvania Hamfest
Clearfield County Fair Grounds, Agriculture Building and grounds
5615 Park St
Clearfield, PA 16830
September 14
8A - 1P
https://clearfieldcountyarc.net/hamfest/
Event photos: Coming soon
Early Television Museum Fall Swap Meet
The Early Television Museum
5396 Franklin St
Hilliard, OH 43026
Usually early October
10A - 2P
https://www.earlytelevision.org/swapmeet.html
Event photos: Coming soon
NOARS Winter Hamfest
John Spitzer Conference Center
1005 North Abbe Road
Elyria, OH 44035
March 9
9A - 12P
Admission $10
https://www.noars.net/hamfests/winter-hamfest/
Event photos: Coming soon
NOARSfest 2025
John Spitzer Conference Center
1005 North Abbe Road
Elyria, OH 44035
July 19
9A - 12P
Admission $7
https://www.noars.net/hamfests/noarsfest/
Event photos: Coming soon
Tri-State Radio Fest 2025
Center Stage Banquet Hall
1495 Old Brodhead Road
Monaca, PA 15061
April 27
8:30 - 4:30P (Club auction at noon)
Admission $7
https://pittsburghantiqueradiosociety.org/events-and-dates/
Event Photos: Coming soon
The ARRL Ohio Section hamfest list can be found at this link.
- 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!