Hamfests and conventions

What is a hamfest?

In its simplest form, a Hamfest is a in which amateur radio enthusiasts can get together at a flea market, and buy and sell items of interest. However hamfests often include lectures and trade demonstrations, so they can make a significant contribution to continuing education. In addition many hams will traven significant distances to hamfests so as to meet other hams on a social basis.

Hamfests are often sponsored by individual clubs as means of raising money for the purchase and maintenance of repeaters and other equipment. Hamfests of this sort usually occupy one day, but some are significantly longer, perhaps a whole weekend or a number of days/

Hamfests by country

Australia

VK2 New South Wales

• Radio Expo From the Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group. In January.

VK3 Victoria

• Ballarat Hamvention From the Golfields DX Amateur Radio Club. In October
• Gippsland Gate hamfest From the Gippsland gate radio and electronics club. In July.
• Gippstech technical conference. In July

VK4 Queensland

• Gold Coast hamfest from the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society. In November.
• Sunfest from the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club. In September.