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RARSfest 2026 Door Prizes

Grand Prize

Yaesu FTDX10 HF Radio




  • The drawing for the Grand Prize will take place at 2:00 PM from among all eligible admission tickets purchased for RARSfest 2026, including “Early Birds”
  • The winner of the Grand Prize will not be eligible for any Sponsored Prize drawings that take place after the Grand Prize drawing
  • Volunteers must purchase an admission ticket to be eligible for the Grand Prize
  • You need not be present to win*

First Prize

Yaesu FTM-510DR ASP FM/C4FM
Dual Band Mobile


  • The drawing for the First Prize will take place at 1:00 PM from among all eligible admission tickets purchased for RARSfest 2026, including “Early Birds”
  • The winner of the First Prize will not be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing or for any Sponsored Prize drawings that take place after the First Prize drawing
  • Volunteers must purchase an admission ticket to be eligible for the First Prize
  • You need not be present to win*

“Early Bird” Prize

ICOM IC-2730A
Dual Band Mobile


  • The drawing for the “Early Bird” Prize will take place at 9:00 AM from among all eligible admission tickets purchased for RARSfest 2026 during the “Early Bird” period from January 30 through March 28, 2026
  • Volunteers must purchase a ticket during the “Early Bird” period to be eligible
  • All tickets purchased during the “Early Bird” period, including the winning ticket, will be placed in the main barrel for subsequent drawings
  • You need not be present to win*

* If the winner of a “major” prize (the Grand Prize, the First Prize, or the Early Bird Prize) does not collect the prize at the Prize & Information Center by 3:15 PM, RARS will use reasonable efforts to contact the winner using the information on the winning ticket stub. If, despite such efforts, RARS has not been able to contact the winner and arrange handover by 5:00 PM on April 18, 2026, Raleigh time, the winner forfeits the prize and the prize becomes the property of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.

Sponsored “Hourly” Prizes


In addition to the Grand, First, and Early Bird prizes described above, drawings for sponsored prizes occur at various intervals throughout the hamfest.

The drawings are from all eligible admission tickets purchased for the 2026 hamfest, except that the winners of the First and Grand Prizes are not eligible for Sponsored Prizes in any subsequent drawings. Volunteers must purchase an admission ticket to be eligible for the Sponsored Prizes.

Winning tickets for the Sponsored Prizes are returned to the barrel and are eligible for subsequent drawings, including the drawings for the First and Grand Prizes.

You must be present to win a Sponsored Prize. Winners' ticket numbers and/or call signs are posted on television monitors at the RARSfest Prize & Information Center and at other locations on the show floor.

Sponsored Prize winners have until 3:05 pm to collect their Sponsored Prizes in person at the Prize & Information Center. The winning ticket will be required to collect a Sponsored Prize. ID may also be required. Don't send a friend to pick up your prizes, they won't be able to get them.

Unclaimed prizes become the property of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.

Prize Sponsors


We will post prizes as we receive them.

Please check back often.

Volunteer Prize


Yaesu FT-70DR

Dual Band FM/C4FM HT

  • Volunteers are eligible for a special Volunteer Prize drawing if they sign up for at least one shift in the Volunteer Sign-Up System (and show up for their shift(s))
  • The drawing for the Volunteer Prize will take place at the volunteer recognition event at a time and place to be announced
  • The purpose of this prize is to encourage people to volunteer at RARSfest, so RARS Board Members and members of the RARSfest Staff are not eligible.

A Few Important Points



  • The information on this page is subject to change at any time. Check back often for updates. It was last updated on January 31, 2026.
  • Complimentary admission tickets are not eligible for any prize drawings (except that volunteers will be eligible for the Volunteer Prize as described).
  • Winners will be responsible for all costs, including taxes, associated with accepting a prize.
  • Winners must present the winnning ticket to claim a prize. Proper ID may also be required.
  • Prizes are subject to commercial availability. RARS reserves the right to substitute cash or prizes of roughly comparable value (in RARS's sole judgment) for any prizes that are not commercially available at the time of the event.
  • The decision of the RARSfest Chair shall be final in all matters regarding prizes.