Spring NEAR-Fest Recap: Soggy Boots, Strong Signals, and Plenty of Eyeball QSOs
Spring NEAR-Fest gave us exactly the kind of weekend that only ham radio can deliver: a little bit of rain, a whole lot of gear, plenty of familiar faces, and that unmistakable feeling of reconnecting with the community in person. Sure, Saturday decided to bring the soggy factor, but honestly, that just made the stories better. After the rain passed and the sun started shining again, the whole place had that classic NEAR-Fest energy — people walking the grounds, catching up, swapping stories, checking out radios, and enjoying those good old-fashioned “eyeball QSOs” that make events like this so special.
Friday started off on a high note with beautiful weather and a great club breakfast at Sawyer’s before heading over to NEAR-Fest. There is something about starting a ham radio weekend with coffee, breakfast, and a table full of radio folks that just sets the tone perfectly. From there, everyone made their way to the fairgrounds ready for a weekend of radios, flea market treasures, and conversations that usually start with “I probably don’t need this…” right before someone buys it anyway.
One of the big highlights from the weekend came on Friday night when Kim, KC1VYM, ran the club net from Bailey’s communication camper. That alone is the kind of thing that makes NEAR-Fest fun. It is not just about walking around looking for gear; it is about getting on the air, experimenting, helping each other out, and keeping the spirit of amateur radio alive right from the middle of the event. Running the club net from the camper gave the weekend a great “field radio” feel and gave everyone another reason to gather, listen in, and be part of the action.
Tim, WM1H, and Kim, KC1VYM, also operated digital modes as part of the special-event station for America’s 250th birthday, using W1AW/1. That was a fantastic way to connect the weekend with something bigger than just the flea market and the food. Special event stations are always a fun reminder that amateur radio is part history, part technology, part public service, and part “let’s see if this actually works from here.” Getting digital modes on the air during NEAR-Fest added another layer of excitement and gave visitors a chance to see amateur radio in action beyond the usual tables of gear and coax.
And speaking of visitors, there were plenty of them. NEAR-Fest once again proved why it continues to be such an important gathering for the amateur radio community. It is the kind of event where you can bump into someone you have only talked to on the air, finally put a face to a callsign, or get pulled into a conversation about antennas that somehow lasts forty-five minutes and ends with three more ideas for your next project. That is the magic of an eyeball QSO. No pileup, no fading signal, no “was that a November or a Mike?” Just people reconnecting, laughing, and enjoying the hobby together.
Saturday may have brought rain, but it definitely did not wash out the fun. Everyone stayed in good spirits, and the soggy weather almost became part of the adventure. Ham radio people are a special breed anyway. Give us a radio, a canopy, a warm drink, and a questionable weather forecast, and somehow we still call it a great day. The rain came down, but the conversations kept going, the exploring continued, and the weekend still felt packed with activity and energy.
That is really the best way to describe Spring NEAR-Fest: soggy but jam-packed. It had the weather drama, the radio activity, the club connections, the special event station, the breakfast, the visitors, and all the little moments that make you glad you showed up. These events are not just about buying gear or checking tables. They are about keeping the amateur radio community connected in real life. They are about shaking hands, sharing laughs, learning something new, and remembering that this hobby is at its best when we get out from behind the radio once in a while and actually meet each other.
So if you missed the spring session, here is your gentle nudge — do not miss the fall NEAR-Fest. Put it on the calendar, grab your rain gear just in case, bring a few dollars for that “totally unnecessary” piece of gear you will absolutely convince yourself you need, and come be part of it. Whether you are a brand-new ham, a seasoned operator, a builder, a collector, a digital mode fan, or just someone who likes hanging around radio people, NEAR-Fest is worth the trip. The fall session is another chance to reconnect, make new friends, find a few treasures, and enjoy one of the best amateur radio gatherings around. NEAR-Fest is more than an event — it is one big eyeball QSO, and you really should be there.
