The 48th annual Tampa Bay Hamfest will be held December 8th and 9th, 2023
Planning starts now – time is flying
Let us fasttrack you to order tickets and space.
President’s Message
To all our friends in Florida and elsewhere, welcome.
The 2022 Tampa Bay Hamfest is in our rear-view mirror now and it is time to review what was accomplished and what we can do to improve. But first, we, the FGCARC Board, want to sincerely thank all our vendors and those who came to support our Hamfest. The only purpose in holding the event is to provide a service, once a year, for hams in the West Central Florida neighborhood. An event when we can gather together, meet old friends, shop for new and used ham stuff, attend a seminar or two, and so on. Let’s not forget to thank all the volunteers who make it all happen.
So how did we do? Overall, with some of the finest Florida sunny weather overhead, the Hamfest was well received. Organized well, we had our usual vendors supplying our usual variety of goods and services. Attendance was a disappointment, not a disaster but we did lose money again. We were hoping the aftereffects of the Covid years would be abating more than it has. Additionally, the Strawberry Festival has raised their fee. Attendance is an area where we will seek to improve upon in 2023 but two years in a row with monetary losses does require us to raise the admission fees. The price at the gate for 2023 will be $13 and $10 in advance. No other prices will change.
Again, we ask our local hams to step up and volunteer to help plan and run the 2023 Tampa Bay Hamfest. There are always plenty of opportunities to help FGCARC (Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council) and we welcome all who can assist in this once-a-year effort. You can also remind your friends of the hamfest as many who do not belong to a club never seem to get the word.
Please keep in touch. We always appreciate hearing from our vendors and hams with ideas and suggestions to improve the Hamfast. Please contact me or any of our officers at https://fgcarc.org/contact-page/
All the best in the upcoming year.
Bill Williams, AG4QX
President of the Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council, Inc.
Chairman of the Tampa Bay Hamfest
2022 Hamfest Prize winners
The winner of the Hamfest Grand Prize is Luke Waatti WB8UJU. Luke lives in Spring Hill, FL. He won an Alinco DR-735T radio.
Above is Luke with Dave Welty, our Hamfest Prize coordinator.
Congratulations, Luke.
Ken Lyons KN4MDJ won Friday’s Main Prize. He won a Diawa Cross Point SWR/Power meter. Ken lives in Winter Garden, FL. He is very active in promoting amateur radio to Scouting and has won the the 2022 KB4UT Wayne Nelson Amateur of the Year Award for his continuing effort in this arena.
Congratulations, Ken.
Saturday’s Main Prize winner is Larry Fountain KD8PUD. Larry comes to us from Swanton, OH. He won an Alinco DJ-VX50H.
Congratulations, Larry. Hope to see you again in 2023 at our Hamfest.