RARSfest is a “hamfest.” A “hamfest” is like a festival or a state fair for amateur radio operators. We have dealers, who sell new amateur radio and other electronic equipment and accessories. We have exhibitors, showing off cool technology. We have a flea market, where people sell their used, sometimes antique, amateur radio and other electronic equiment. We have meetings and forums, where you can learn about various aspects of the amateur radio hobby. And we have a testing session, where you can earn or level-up your amateur radio license.

The next RARSfest is on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The doors are open to the public from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.

RARSfest is in the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Please see our Directions page for help finding us.

Tickets will go on sale in early 2025. You can buy tickets on line until about a week before the show. We will also be selling tickets in-person at the RARS Gathering and at various other amateur radio club meetings and events in the Triangle area. You can also buy tickets at the door on the day before and the day of the show. Prices will be higher at the door. Pricing will be announced in early 2025.

You do not need to buy a ticket to attend the exam session. You do need to buy a ticket if you want to attend RARSfest before or after the exam session or if you want to be eligible for the prize drawings. Use the right-hand entrance at the north end of the Jim Graham Building. Good luck on the test!

You do not need to buy a ticket to attend just the SKYWARN class. You do need to buy a ticket if you want to attend RARSfest before or after the SKYWARN class, which we highly recommend. Use the right-hand entrance at the north end of the Jim Graham Building.

There are multiple entrances to the Jim Graham Buidling. Which one you should use depends on who you are. It will be helpful to look at this map in conjunction with the information below.

If you are a general admission attendee, and

• You don't have a ticket and it's the day of the show, use the left-hand main entrance at the north end of the building to buy one;
• You bought your ticket online or by mail during the “Early Bird” Period, use the right-hand entrance at the north end of the building to pick up your ticket and wrist-band at the will-call table;
• You have a physical ticket that you bought from us at another hamfest, The Gathering, or the day before the show, you can use either of the entrances at the north end of the building;
• You don't have a ticket and it's the day before the show, use the “Load-In Entrance” on the west side of the building to buy one between noon to 7:00 pm.

If you are a dealer, exhibitor, flea market seller, or RARSfest volunteer or staff member, use the “Load-In Entrance” on the west side of the building.

If you are a license exam candidate or attending the SKYWARN class, use the right-hand entrance at the north end of the building.

Yes, there is plenty of FREE PARKING at the Fairgrounds, right next to the RARSfest building. Please see the map of the Fairgrounds on the Directions page.

Don't worry, you didn't miss anything. We don't mail physical tickets for on-line purchases. Just bring your confirmation email to the will-call desk to pick up your tickets when you come to RARSfest. ID may be required.

Yes, you can buy tickets at the roll-up doors on the west side of the Jim Graham Building on the NC State Fairgrounds on Friday, the day before the show, from noon to 7:00 pm. You can also buy tickets at the main door on the day of the hamfest, starting at 7:30 am, a half an hour before the hamfest starts at 8:00 am. We accept major credit and debit cards at the doors.

No. Tickets purchased on-line are issued in the name of the purchaser. We have no way to transfer them. Only you can pick them up at RARSfest. ID may be required. Putting on RARSfest is expensive, and we count on revenue from ticket sales. We don't give refunds just because you changed your mind. We don't save any money if you don't come.

If you have a physical ticket, we can't stop you from giving or selling it to someone else. But be aware that the prize stub, which we kept when we sold you the ticket, has your name and contact information on it. If we draw your prize stub, the person you sold or gave your ticket to (a) won't be able to claim the prize for you, and (b) won't be able to claim the prize for themselves.

We don't give refunds unless the show is completely cancelled. Putting on RARSfest is expensive, and we count on revenue from ticket sales. We don't give refunds just because you changed your mind. We don't save any money if you don't come.

Yes! Cousin's Confections will have food and beverages for sale in the restaurant area in the northeast corner of the building (lower left corner on the Event Floor Plan) on the day of the show from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. They will be serving 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!

From 7:30 am until 8:00 am, the restaurant will be accessible via the hallway off the vestibule at the front of the Jim Graham Building (lower left corner on the Event Floor Plan) so people waiting in line to buy tickets or to enter the hamfest can get a beverage and a snack while they are waiting.

Once the hamfest starts at 8:00 am, we will close the door to the restaurant in the hallway and open the door to the restaurant from the show floor, at which point the restaurant will be accessible only from the show floor. This is so we can limit access to the show floor to only those people who have hamfest tickets.

The Fairgounds discourages people from bringing pets. The Jim Graham Building is not a particularly pet-friendly environment. Pets would find it crowded, noisy, and chaotic.

Service animals are, of course, always permitted. Please note that in North Carolina service animals are limited to dogs that are individually trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Please also note that we are allowed to ask what tasks the dog performs.

All that being said, we will not turn you away if you bring a quiet, well-behaved dog or unicorn on a short leash, but we may require you to leave (without a refund) if it does not stay that way. Fairgrounds rules require that all pets within the Fairgrounds have current rabies vaccinations. Do not bring any other animals to the Jim Graham Building. It should go without saying that you are responsible for anything your dog or unicorn does, including cleaning up after it. And do not, under any circumstances, leave an animal unattended in your vehicle.

The Fairgrounds has a page on its website listing local accommodations.

The Fairgrounds has an on-site RV campground. RV camping only, however. No tent camping on-site.

We are glad you have enjoyed the static display. Vehicle display inside the building is by invitation only. If you have a really cool communications-related vehicle you would like to display at RARSfest, please contact the RARSfest Chair, Nancy Torborg, KB2TNR. Otherwise, no other vehicles are allowed in the building during the show hours.

The Commercial Area is in a prime traffic area, right at the front of the show floor when attendees come in through the main entrances. Only commercial sellers of new amateur radio and related equipment (so-called "Dealers") and non-commercial amateur-radio-related organizations that are not selling anything (other than memberships and incidental logoed merchandise) (so-called "Exhibitors") can purchase space in the Commercial Area.

Sellers of used equipment should purchase tables in the Flea Market.

See the Event Floor Plan for the locations of the various areas.

RARSfest offers two kinds of spaces in the Commercial Area

• Attractive 10' x 10' pipe & drape booths with tables, chairs, and divider curtains, and
• Eight-foot tables (with chairs) in a custom arrangement (space permitting)

Some Dealers and Exhibitors prefer the professional look of the booths, others prefer the flexibilty of the tables.

For booth space, please contact Chuck Littlewood K4HF, +1 (919) 630-9358, K4HF953@Yahoo.com or Nancy Torborg, KB2TNR (Click to Email) and ask for the Dealer Package.

For tables in the Commercial Area, please contact Jeremy Lindsley K2HJX, +1 (919) 523-9631

Please note that the deadline for ordering space in the Commercial Area is March 30, a week before the hamfest.

Yes. Yes, you can. Subject to availability, of course. Please make your request at the time of ordering.

No. The limit is four complimentary tickets regardless of how much booth space or how many tables you purchase in the Commercial Area.

All persons (including dealers, exhibitors, and flea market sellers) offering goods for sale at RARSfest are responsible for complying with their obligations in respect of sales and use taxes, including payment of any federal and state taxes owed in conjunction with sales at RARSfest.

The following appears on the website of the North Carolina Department of Revenue and is copied here for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and is not, legal advice.

“A person engaged in business in this State and selling tangible personal property, and certain digital property at retail, or rendering a taxable service at specialty markets, flea markets, fairs, festivals, sporting events, entertainment events, and other events and functions must register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and is required to collect and remit sales and use tax unless a specific exemption applies to the product sold.”

For more information, visit https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/specialty-markets-or-other-events#2 or contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue. RARSfest personnel will not answer tax-related questions.

Yes, you can! Please see the Vehicle Access Information page for more information.

No, you cannot. There isn't enough space in the building to accommodate sellers' vehicles or trailers during the hamfest. Please move your vehicle out of the building promptly after unloading it. There is plenty of free parking outside. All vehicles have to be out of the building before the hamfest can start. See the Vehicle Access Information page for more information.

The Flea Market is for non-commercial sellers of used amateur radio and related equipment and for amateur radio clubs that are selling nothing other than memberships and incidential club logoed merchandise.

See the Commercial Area page if you are a commercial seller of new amateur radio and related equipment or a non-commercial exhibitor related to amateur radio.

See the Event Floor Plan for the locations of the various areas.

Tables will go on sale in early 2024. You will be able to find prices, a link to our on-line ordering system, and other details on the Flea Market page.

We assign tables on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can't pick your location, but we will try to accommodate reasonable requests made at the time of purchase, subject to availability, of course. If you want to be near other Flea Market sellers, your best bet is to buy your tables at the same time as each other and note that you want to be together in the comments. Please note, however, that the assignment of tables is entirely at our discrection, and assignments may change at our discretion up to and including the day of the event.

Yes, or at least as close as other traffic will allow. The lanes in the Flea Market are narrow, so please unload your gear at your table and move your vehicle out of the building promptly before coming back to set up. At the end of the hamfest, please have your gear packed up and ready to go before going to get your vehicle. Please see our Vehicle Access Information page for important information about how, when, and where you can drive in and out of the building .

No, you cannot. There isn't enough space in the building to accommodate sellers' vehicles or trailers during the hamfest. There is plenty of free parking outside. All vehicles have to be out of the building before the hamfest can start. See the Vehicle Access Information page for more information.

No. No one except RARSfest Staff and Volunteers is permitted in the building before noon or after 7:00 pm on Friday or before 6:00 am on Saturday. We need time before the set-up windows open to make sure everything is ready. You can set up your table(s) any time after 6:00 am on the day of the show, but you won't be able to drive a vehicle into the building after 7:30 am.

Probably not. Contact Jeremy Lindsley, K2HJX and we will see what we can do, but be aware that we are dealing with literally hundreds of orders and special requests, so requests for changes to existing assignments will, in most cases, not be granted.

We do not give refunds unless the show is completely cancelled. Putting on RARSfest is expensive, and we count on revenue from ticket and table sales. We have to order the tables from the Fairgrounds in advance. We don't save any money if you don't come. And if you take a table and cancel it, you may have deprived someone else of the table in the meantime.

All persons (including dealers, exhibitors, and flea market sellers) offering goods for sale at RARSfest are responsible for complying with their obligations in respect of sales and use taxes, including payment of any federal and state taxes owed in conjunction with sales at RARSfest.

The following appears on the website of the North Carolina Department of Revenue and is copied here for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and is not, legal advice.

“A person engaged in business in this State and selling tangible personal property, and certain digital property at retail, or rendering a taxable service at specialty markets, flea markets, fairs, festivals, sporting events, entertainment events, and other events and functions must register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and is required to collect and remit sales and use tax unless a specific exemption applies to the product sold.”

For more information, visit https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/specialty-markets-or-other-events#2 or contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue. RARSfest personnel will not answer tax-related questions.

There are many benefits of being a RARSfest volunteer, among them

• The personal satisfaction of supporting your club, if you are a RARS member
• The personal satisfaction of supporting the amateur radio community, if you are an amateur radio operator or interested in becoming one
• The fun and camaraderie of spending time with other like-minded volunteers
• The opportunity to sell a reasonable number of items through the RARS Volunteer Consignment Table, relieving you of the time and expense of renting and staffing a table yourself
• Other volunteer benefits to be announced
• And, finally and perhaps most importantly, helping to ensure the continuation of RARSfest into the future. The biggest threat to hamfests today is the lack of volunteers. Some large hamfests that were suspended during COVID have not come back, due in part to the lack of volunteers. We need your help to keep RARSfest alive.

We are evaluating the volunteer incentive package and expect to be able announce the tangible benefits of volunteer at RARSfest in early 2024.

No, you do not need to be a RARS member to volunteer at RARSfest. RARSfest is a big event, we need lots of help, and we welcome anyone who is able to volunteer.

Generally, you do not. Most roles do not require the use of an amateur radio. Some roles do, though, like Talk-In and Security, but if you want to sign up for one of those positions and don't have a license, find a buddy who does and sign up together.

Go to the Volunteer page. You will find descriptions of all the volunteer positions and a link to sign up!

You can sign up when the Volunteer Sign-Up System opens in early 2024.

We strongly prefer that volunteers use the Volunteer Sign-Up System. That way we know who is coming and we have our volunteers' contact information to keep them informed. And you must use the Volunteer Sign-Up System to be eligible for complimentary admission and the special volunteer-only prize drawing.

That being said, if you do just show up, we will gladly try to find a job for you, but you won't receive complimentary admission and your name won't go into the pot for the Volunteer Prize drawing.

Yes, please. In fact, we encourage it. Just be careful, though, because the shift times can vary by area. Don't sign up for a shift in one area that overlaps with a shift you have signed up for in another area, unless you have figured out how to be in two places at once (in which case, let's talk).

Don't worry. Your “section leader” will tell you what to do when you arrive for your shift.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for your shift, especially for the first shift of the day.

Please use Gate 5 to enter the Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds will open it specially for us at about 5:30 am. It will be the only gate open early on Saturday.

Enter the building through the roll-up door on the west side of the building (aka the “load-in” entrance or the “Flea Market” entrance), and check in at the Volunteer Check-In Table. We will have your wristband there. You won't need an admission ticket to get in.

A day or two before the hamfest, we will distribute by email to all registered volunteers a Volunteer Information Sheet that has pretty much everything you will need to know as a volunteer.

Please contact the RARSfest Chair, Nancy Torborg.

The Volunteer Examiner Team is handled completely separately from the running of RARSfest. You do not need to (and in fact cannot) use the Volunteer Sign-Up System to sign up for the VE Team, and as a Volunteer Examiner you are not eligible for complimentary admission to RARSfest or for the special volunteer-only prize drawing. Contact Richard Hall K7RLH regarding the VE Team.

However, many VE's also volunteer to help with RARSfest during periods of time when they are not fulfilling their VE responsibilites. If you do want to volunteer for RARSfest, then you would be eligible for complimentary admission and the volunteer-only prize if you register using the Volunteer Sign-Up System.