Batavia Hamfest - Saturday July 18, 2026

 

More info at: https://w2so.org/index.php/hamfest/

RAGS Syracuse Hamfest

 

More info at: https://ragsclub.org/

Rochester Hamfest - 6/20/26

 

More info at: https://www.rochesterham.org/hamfest.htm

Cortland Hamfest - Sat. June 13, 2026

 

More info at: https://skylinehamradioclub.org/

Lockport Summer Hamfest - 6/6/26

 

More info at: https://www.lockportara.us/home

AWA Spring Meet, Flea Market & Auction - Sat. 5/2/26

 Mark Your Calendars For a Huge Event!        Saturday May 2, 2026  

The annual AWA Spring Meet, Flea Market & Auction will be held at Veteran’s Park in Bloomfield, NY. The park is just across the road from the AWA Communication Technologies Museum, 6925 State Route 5, just east of the intersection of Routes 5 & 20 and Route 444. AWA will be operating a Museum Bargain Table and a large Museum Book Sale in the former AWA Annex building located in the park. Also, an Open Flea Market will be held for visitors and members.

As part of the meet, AWA will hold an Auction of duplicate and surplus items from the Museum’s artifacts. Don’t miss it!  This auction will be held in the afternoon in the former AWA Annex. Payment must be by cash or check.  We will not be able to accept credit cards. Auction items will be listed on the AWA web site as they are identified. Watch for updates to the list.

Schedule

Time                         Event
7 AM- Noon              Open Flea Market, at Veteran’s Park
8 AM- Noon              AWA Bargain Table & Book Sale, in the former Annex
10 AM – Noon           AWA Communication Technologies Museum open for visitors
8 AM – 1 PM             Auction pre-view, at the former AWA Annex
1 PM – To End           AWA Auction

Admission for the Day is $5

Flea Market Vendor Pass is an additional $7

More info at: https://www.antiquewireless.org/homepage/

Drumlins Hamfest - Sat 4/18/26

 *** Drumlins Hamfest 2026***

• Palmyra VFW Post 6778, 4306 Route 31, Palmyra, NY
• Vendors 7AM, Public 8AM-Till 1PM

Table Signup: Rich Hamill (315) 986-8589
Email: Hamfest@drumlinsarc.us

CVARA Hamfest- Sat. 4/11/26

 more info at: https://cvara.net/our-events/bullthistle-hamfest/

KLARA Hamfest - Sat. 2/7/26

 

WHEN: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2026@ 8AM

Join the Keuka Lake Amateur Radio Association (KLARA) for a fun, FREE hamfest in Almond, NY! Don’t miss this chance to trade gear, meet fellow hams, get your ham radio license, and celebrate amateur radio!

LOCATION:

Almond, NY Municipal Building – 1 Marvin Lane

Take Exit 33 off I-86, follow signs toward Alfred (1 mile from exit).

VENDORS

FREE flee market for vendors

Open for vendors at 7AM

Tables, chairs and power (as available)

FCC LICENSE TESTING

VE Testing at 10 AM ~ get your license or upgrade 

For reservations please email:   ve_testing@klara.us 

More info at: https://klara.us/

John Bartscherer, N1GNV - SK ("John Bee" of Quicksilver Radio)

We were sad to recently hear that John Bartscherer, N1GNV, better known in the amateur radio community as John Bee, owner of Quicksilver Radio Products, passed away on October 23rd, 2025. 

John was a familiar face at hamfests around Upstate NY as well as up and down the East Coast. His store, Quicksilver Radio Products had an online presense as well for over twenty years. John sold parts, accessories and cables for radio equipment, many of which John made himself. Online memorials to John mention that prior to starting Quicksilver Radio Products, John was the QST Advertising Manager for many years.

We bought a lot of "stuff" from John over the years. I remember him encouraging me to adopt Power pole connectors early in my "hammy carreer". I went on to buy crimpers, connectors and cable fom him at shows and online. He was always a very pleasant guy to talk to!

John is survived by his children, Elizabeth and Jay, and his brother Michael. According to the QSR website they are NOT closing and have re-organized. They are open for business as of this writing and planning on being at Hamfests in 2026.

https://www.qsradio.com/index.html

UPDATE 1/15/26    (just got this note from QSR's new owner)

Honoring the Legacy: The Future of Quicksilver Radio

Hi anthony,           A lot has happened and changed since the last Quicksilver newsletter was sent!  What hasn't changed is Quicksilver's dedication to serving the ham radio community.   In October 2025 John B passed away after a brief hospital stay and several years of health issues. John's vision, drive and passion for Quicksilver is the reason the company grew to where it is today. John and I (K3KMT) began earnestly discussing a business succession plan around the time of the Nutmeg Hamfest in 2024 in Meriden, CT. We attended several hamfests together and he would ask me each time "are you ready?"  I would laugh him off and tell him no.  Honestly I was intimidated by the thought of taking on such a large endeavor. He was persistent. He asked me to come spend a day with him at his shop before the 2025 Nutmeg Hamfest.  I traveled to CT and we spent all day together. He convinced me that the idea was feasible and could work.  Anyone that saw John at the hamfest in October knew it wasn't the John we were normally used to seeing.  John's health declined rapidly after that show.  I got "the phone call" the morning after he passed - less then two weeks after the Nutmeg Hamfest.  After taking some time and looking at several options the family made the difficult decision to sell the business.           The last month has been a whirlwind. We sent a team to CT to pack inventory, tooling and equipment. It was a difficult 2 days of packing and moving for me personally, I wish John would have been there to help. His knowledge, and his personality were missed.  More then anything, as the team at Quicksilver Radio moves forward, our goal is to honor John's legacy and the fond memories that the customers and his hamfest friends have.              So what does the future hold?  We are looking forward to meeting and seeing John's friends and past customers throughout the next year and especially at Hamcation in Florida in February. We are trying our hardest to get to as many hamfests as possible. PLEASE see the hamfest schedule by clicking this link.  Also be sure to check out the website, as we work on rebuilding it, and look for a fresh new look on the website - we hope by April.         One new product that will be unveiled at Hamcation is a go box "Hammocan" featuring a LiFePO4 battery!  Other new innovative products are being explored and developed as well.        Please don't forget Winter Field Day is January 24-25, just 9 days from now!  Its a great time to introduce someone to the magic of ham radio!  Get radioactive with your local club or invite a few buddies to a central location.        Lastly, I ask for a bit of grace on your part. We are working our way thru bugs and kinks in the ordering system, the website and the email system. If we don't reply in 24 hours, we aren't intentionally ignoring you. Please feel free to call the store at 717-354-2200 and talk to a live person.     Ralph K3KMT Team Quicksilver Radio www.qsradio.com

Marathon Hamfest - 1/10/26 - Let the Hamfest season begin!

 First Upstate NY Hamfest of the year!

The Marathon Hamfest will be held on January 10 2026 at the Marathon NY Civic Center, Brink St in Marathon NY from 7 AM until Noon. Admission is $6.00 each, under 12 free. 

For hamfest (not VE) information check out skylinehamradioclub.org or e-mail Pat at pdunn5@gmail.com

 

Tables are available at $10.00 per 8' space. To reserve tables contact Pat at pdunn5@gmail.com.

 

VE tests will be given beginning at 9 AM. Pre-registration is recommended and may be done by clicking this link: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/689138b2503f62a1cfd8e393/1 You will receive a reply with basic information. The testing location is off-site, and requires a two minute walk. VE tests are provided by the TCARA VE team. For information on what to bring to the test click here: https://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session

 

Food will be provided by the Marathon Area Historical Society.

 

Travel Directions:

 

From Syracuse, Cortland and the North: Use I-81 South to Exit 39. Turn Left on to Route 11 South. At the light, turn right on to Route 221 West (East Main St). Immediately before the steel deck bridge, turn left on to Peck St. In one block the Civic Center is on your left. Parking for the Civic Center is in the rear of the maplefest buildings. Note: Parking next to the building is handicapped only.

 

From Binghamton, Whitney Point and points South: I-81 to Exit 38. Turn Left on to route Route 221 West (East Main St), go straight through the light. Immediately before the steel deck bridge, turn left on to Peck St. In one block the Civic Center is on your left. Parking for the Civic Center is in the rear of the maplefest buildings. Note: Parking next to the building is handicapped only.

 

From Ithaca: Route 13 North to Dryden. Take Route 38 South to Harford, then Route 221 East to Marathon. Turn right immediately after the steel deck bridge on to Peck St., the Civic Center is on your left. Parking for the Civic Center is in the rear of the maplefest buildings. Note:  Parking next to the building is handicapped only.

 

-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Andrew Slaugh KB2LUV

Secretary, Skyline Amateur Radio Club

Owner of the 145.490 PL 71.9 Repeater in Cortland, NY

Great 2025 ROC City Hamfest!

The guys at the ROC City Hamfest hit another one out of the park yesterday! The 2025 Roc City Hamfest on August 23rd was held in memory of K2ZX, Joe Merolillo. Joe would be very proud of the groups efforts! Joe was the Hamfest founder and always rallied a gang to put on one of the areas better hamfests. 

It was a beutiful day with a very large group of tailgaters as well as buyers. We got to see a lot of faces and shake quite a few hands of folks we had'nt seen in awhile. Lots of equipment was changing hands along with many smiling faces up and down the aisles. They also had quite a few people camping out Friday night as well as over thirty people at the Log Cabin for dinner. Already looking forward to next year guys! 

50th Annual Elmira Hamfest - Sat. 9/27/25

 

The Elmira Hamfest is one of our favorites here in Upstate NY! Always a good turnout and a pretty area to visit this time of year. Check it out!

More info at: https://www.arasth3.org/hamfest/

Keuka Lake Hamfest - Sat. 8/16/25

 

More info at: https://klara.us/

ROC CITY NET Hamfest - Sat. 8/23/25

 from the Roc City Net FB page 7/26/25:

Ok, for those folks who have been wondering about the 2025 ROC CITY NET Hamfest, it will be going on on Saturday August 23, 2025 at the Log Cabin in Macedon, NY. There will also be a Friday night dinner after the setup, with more details to follow. We got the official approval for our event from the town yesterday, so the fest will be going on. I look forward to seeing you all at the hamfest, and please do spread the word around, that we will be at the Log Cabin in Macedon. 

Thanks. Jeff-KD2PQP

more info at: https://roccitynethamfest.com/

Bearbait Tailgate Fest - 9/20/25

 

Batavia Hamfest - 7/19/25

 

more info at: https://w2so.org/index.php/join-us-for-the-batavia-hamfest-july-19-2025/

Utica Hamfest - 7/26/25

 Utica Amateur Radio Club's "RadioCom 2025", Utica NY Hamfest

more info at: https://www.arrl.org/hamfests/utica-amateur-radio-club-s-radiocom-2025-utica-ny-hamfest