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RARSfest Event Schedule & Floor Plan
The event schedule and floor plan for 2025 are preliminary and subject to change.
The Event Schedule was last updated on January 21, 2025. Check back often!
Click here for a printable version.

Location  9:00 – 10:00 10:00 – 11:00 11:00 – Noon Noon – 1:00 1:00 – 2:00 2:00 – 3:00
Room No. 1
Sales Arena
(Confirmed )
Combined ARRL Forum, with Roanoke Division Director Dr. Jim Boehner N2ZZ, and Vice Director Bill Morine N2COP, and NC Section Section Manager Marv Hoffman WA4NC, and his staff. NWS SKYWARN® Storm Spotter Training with Virginia Enzor NC4VA, Emergency Coordinator Central Carolina SKYWARN “An Introduction to Amateur Radio Satellites - Working the Easy Satellites with Equipment You Already Own,” presented by Philip Jenkins N4HF “Earth-Moon-Earth Moonbounce Presentation and Live Demo,” presented by the NC State Student Amateur Radio Society W4ATC “Turning an Android Phone into a 2M HT for $35,” presented by Vance Vagell KV4P
Room No. 2
West “Hall of Fame” Meeting Room
(Confirmed )
Amateur Radio License Exams administered by the RARS and FCHRE VE Teams. Hamfest admission is not required to take an exam. First-time licensees should apply for their FCC FRN before the day of the exam. All applicants must arrive promptly at 9:00 AM SHARP! Walk-ins will be accepted but priority will be given to candidates who pre-register using the form on the RARSfest License Exams page, which also contains other important information. “Exploring the Digital Modes: D-Star, System Fusion, and DMR,” presented by Nathan Best KO4W
 TBA 
 “Helping Hams: Ham Radio for Public Service Events,” with Jeremy Lindsley K2HJX, RARS Public Service Director
RARSfest
Command Center
Show Floor Center
Information Table, PA Announcements, Prize Pick-Up, Lost & Found
Pre-Registration Prize at 10:00 AM, First Prize at 1:00 PM, Grand Prize at 2:00 PM
“Hourly” Prize drawings throughout the day!
Winners of “Hourly” Prizes will have until 3:15 pm to collect them in person at the Command Center. ID may required.
The Commercial Area
 ARRL, QCWA, RARS, NTS Booths. QSL card checking for ARRL and CQ awards by K4CIA. Central Carolina SKYWARN/NWS Booth, Virginia Enzor NC4VA and her staff Visit the ARRL booth to meet our Roanoke Division Director and Vice Director, and the NC Section Officers and appointees. Update your ARRL, RARS, and QCWA national and local Piedmont NC Chapter 126 memberships.
Northeast Corner of the
Commercial Area
NC Ham Public Service Communications Trailer
Jeremy Lindsley K2HJX, RARS Public Service Director
Restaurant
Northeast Corner
The restaurant will be open from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
The restaurant will be accessible via the hallway in the vestibule from 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM so people waiting in line can get a beverage and a snack. Once the hamfest doors open to the public at 8:00 AM, the restaurant will be accessible only by hamfest attendees from the show floor.
Restaurant Closed
Outside the Jim
Graham Building
Northeast Corner
Satellite Communications Demonstration, with John Brier KG4AKV
Satellites and pass times TBA
See the Satellite Demonstration page for details.
Spectators are advised to arrive at least a few minutes prior to the noted times of the satellite passes.
Volunteer Consignment Table
Bargains to be had at the rear west wall of the Flea Market, beyond the "milking parlor" (whatever that is)
Maker Island
West of the Booths
Alamance Makers Guild - Greensboro Makerspace  |  Forge Initiative - Apex Makerspace  |  SplatSpace - Durham's HackerSpace  |  Triangle Area Makers  |  TriEmbed - Triangle Embedded Interest Group  |  TriLUG - Triangle Linux Users Group  |  Triangle Amateur Robotics  |  Competing FIRST Robotics Teams  |  Learn to Solder!
Robot Corral
Northwest Corner
Competing FIRST Robotics Teams
Vehicle Static Display
Northeast Corner
Johnston Amateur Radio Society's EmComm Vehicle
IEEE Emergency Response Vehicle

“Skywarn®” and the “Skywarn®” logo are registered trademarks of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.



The floor plan below is indicative only, not to scale, and subject to change


Click for Full-Size Image