Forums & Events Schedule and Floor Plan Dealers, Exhibitors & Clubs Attending Door Prizes License Exams Satellite Demonstration Comm Vehicle Static Display RARSfest Get-Togethers
General Admission Flea Market Tables Commercial Area Booths & Tables Vehicle Access Information
Local Directions Talk-In
— Coming from Out of Town? —
State Fairgrounds' Hotel Partners Yelp's 10 Best Hotels Near the Fairgrounds State Fairgrounds' On-Site RV Camping Yelp's 10 Best RV Parks Near the Fairgrounds
Printable Event Schedule Printable Floor Plan Printable RARSfest Flyer Printable RARSfest Program RARSfest on Facebook Presenters' Materials Press Release – March 18, 2025 Ham Shack TV by Josh AA4WX
Become a Volunteer! Register Your Consignment Items Volunteer FAQs Thank You to Prior Years' Volunteers!
Event Floor Plan Vehicle Access Information RARSfest Contacts Meet the 2025 RARSfest Staff Pictures from 2024
FAQ's for Everyone FAQ's for Dealers & Exhibitors FAQ's for Flea Market Sellers FAQ's for Volunteers
RARS Menu ☰

RARSfest 2025 is in the Books!

Thank you to the Dealers, Exhibitors,
Flea Market Sellers,
Volunteers, and Attendees for making it a success!

Experience the Largest All-Indoor Hamfest
on the East Coast
NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC, April 4, 2026
Brought to you by the
Raleigh Amateur Radio Society

Features

2025 Recap By the Numbers

  • 1,626 Paid Attendees1
  • 14 Commercial Dealers
  • 16 Exhibitors
  • 5 Amateur Radio Clubs
  • 230 Flea Market Tables (Sold Out!)
  • 3 “major” door prizes, 42 sponsored door prizes
  • 74 Volunteers and Staff
  • 13 Volunteer Examiners administered examinations to
    • 45 Applicants, resulting in
    • 21 New Technicians
    • 2 New Generals
    • 1 New Amateur Extra
    • 6 Upgraded Generals
    • 4 Upgraded Amateur Extras
  • Media Coverage on Ham Shack TV by Josh AA4WX
1 Volunteers, Staff, and first-time licensees who received complimentary admission are not included in this figure.

Door Prizes!


Grand Prize

Yaesu FTDX10 HF Radio
Congratulations to Joe Hendrix,
our 2025 winner!

First Prize

Yaesu FTM-510DR ASP FM/C4FM
Dual Band Mobile
Congratulations to Brian Edmondson,
our 2025 winner!

“Early Bird” Prize

ICOM IC-2730A Dual Band Mobile
Congratulations to Duane Blevins,
our 2025 winner!

Volunteer Prize

Yaesu FT-70DR Dual Band Handheld Radio
To be awarded

Cousin's Confections has food and beverages for sale in the restaurant area, including assorted Danish; sausage, bacon and ham biscuits; assorted juices; and fresh brewed coffee for breakfast; and burgers, hot dogs, BBQ pork sandwiches, assorted wraps, soft drinks, and lemonade for lunch! The restaurant opens at 7:30 AM so people waiting in line before the hamfest starts can get a beverage and a snack while they are waiting. Once the hamfest starts at 8:00 AM, the restaurant is accessible only from the show floor.

General Admission


  • Pricing for 2026 will be announced in early January

Commercial Area


  • For commercial sellers of new amateur radio and related equipment, and non-commercial exhibitors
  • The Dealer Package with 2026 pricing will be available in early January!

Flea Market


  • For clubs and non-commercial sellers of used amateur radio and related equipment only! (No gutters, jewelry, crafts, candles, macramé, etc., please!)
  • Pricing for 2026 will be announced in early January
    • .
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