Playground Amateur Radio Club Garage Sale! Come get some Ham Radio Gear for cheap! We’re cleaning out the closet one last time and your projects will benefit from it! Noon to three pm Aug 15 2026!
Category: Hamfest/Tailgate! Page 1 of 4
Some of Team PARC assembled to gather in Mobile at their Hamfest and boy howdy what a great time! We took time to sell, swap, trade, barter, see friends, make new ones, and experience the joy of our wonderful hobby! If you weren’t there, you missed out on a great time! We sure made the best of it and took it all in! Made a few stops and saw some cool stuff along the way as well! Be sure to join in with PARC as we continue to explore the world of Amateur Radio! Fo you want to k ow what’s next?! Go the the club calendar and see for yourself! 
From our Group to yours, thank you for a wonderful event! The 56th Annual Playground Amateur Radio Club Hamfest is proud to have sponsored another great adventure in Amateur Radio!
Its hamfest week! And the Playground Amateur Radio Club is ready for another fabulous event! 56th Annual PARC Hamfest: Systems Operational
The Playground Amateur Radio Club (PARC) 56th Annual Hamfest is officially commencing. Data indicates high activity levels at the Rigdon Center (formerly Northwest Florida Fairgrounds) for this weekend’s events.
Event Logistics
Location: Rigdon Center, 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Dates:
Friday, March 20: Pre-show from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Setup 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM).
Saturday, March 21: Main event from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Setup 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM).
Admission: $10.00 (Free for Scouts in uniform, ages 12 and under, and seniors over 85).
Talk-In Frequency: 146.790 MHz (100Hz tone).
Key Programming
License Testing: VE testing begins at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 21. Pre-registration via PARCFWB@gmail.com is recommended.
Swapfest & Tables: Indoor tables are $15.00 each, featuring a wide array of radio gear, electronics, and specialized equipment.
Grand Prizes: Saturday drawings are scheduled for 12:00 PM (3rd), 12:30 PM (2nd), and 1:00 PM (Main Prize). Presence is not required for the main prize.
You read that right! Join us to support a tailgater in Defuniak Springs and then mosey on out to activate a park! See the information below!
What the what?! You heard us! Several members of PARC are attending HAMCATION this year in Orlando! Larry, K4LWM is one of them and he is rocking our Club Flag to represent!
Mike, KR4ETE is also down there and its his first trip! We sure hope all have a ton of fun and wish them a safe and enjoyable experience!
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- Here is a listing of area Hamfests gathered by our good friend John, KE4HIE! Be sure to note your calendars!
Hamfests and Tailgate Calender 2026 (REVISED – 01-09-2026)
Blount County ARC Freeze Fest
Jan. 3, 2026 – Locust Fork High School,
77 School Road, (HWY 79), Locust Fork, Alabama 35079
Playground ARC Garage Sale – Noon to 5:00pm
Jan. 17, 2026 – 17 First Street SE, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida 32548
Jackson, Ms. Hamfest – ARRL Mississippi State Convention
Jan. 30-31, 2026 – 1200 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS.39202
Orlando Hamcation – ARRL SE Division Convention
Feb. 13-15, 2026 – 4603 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803
Dalton Hamfest
Feb. 27-28, 2026 – North Georgia Fairgrounds, 500 Legion Drive, Dalton, Georgia 30719
Birmingham Hamfest – ARRL Alabama Section Convention
March 6-7, 2026 – Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville-Clay Road, Trussville, Alabama 35173
Bud’s Tailgator
March 14, 2026 – Steele Creek Park, 368 Juniper Ave. Satsuma, Alabama 36572
Ft. Walton Beach Hamfest
March 20-21, 2026 – NWFL Fairgrounds – 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd. FWB, Florida 32548
Memphis Freefest (Delta ARC)
April 11, 2026 – Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38120
Mobile ARC W4AIX Hamfest
April 18, 2026 – 8:00am to 2:00pm – Mobile Fairgrounds,
1035 Cody Road N. Mobile, Alabama 36601
Wiregrass ARC Spring Tailgate
April 25, 2026 – Park Street, Headland, Alabama 36345
Knoxville Hamfest – ARRL Tennessee State Convention
June 13, 2026 – Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, 701 Merchant Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912
Shreveport-Bossier Hamfest – ARRL Delta Division Convention
August 7-8, 2026 – State Fairgrounds of Louisiana, Agricultural Building,
3206 Pershing Blvd., Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Huntsville Hamfest – ARRL National Convention
August 22-23, 2026 – Von Braun Civic Center – South Hall
700 Monroe Street SW, Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Shelby Hamfest – ARRL North Carolina State Convention
September 4-5, 2026 – Cleveland County Fairgrounds,
1751 E. Marion Street, Shelby, North Carolina, 28152
Bud’s Fall Tailgator
September 26, 2026 – Steele Creek Park,
368 Juniper Ave. Satsuma, Alabama 36572
Crestview Hamfest
October 9-10, 2026 – Crestview Community Center,
1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview, Florida 32536
Deep South ARC Hamfest (Mobile)
October 17, 2026 – Mobile Fairgrounds,
1035 Cody Road N. Mobile, Alabama 36601
Headland Fall Tailgate
October 24, 2026 – Park Street, Headland, Alabama 36345
Montgomery Hamfest
November 14, 2026 – Alcazar Shrine Temple
555 East Blvd. Montgomery, Alabama 36117
Playground ARC Swampfest / Tailgate
November 21, 2026 – 665 Denton Blvd. NW, Ft Walton Beach, Florida 32548