2023-10-03 Hamfest Chattanooga 2023 Update.
“At the Ready!” Preparedness in all things; life, family, home, communications, food, weather awareness, power sources, and more.
Our hamfest theme this year is “At the Ready”. We could think of no better theme than rekindling self-reliance and preparedness. Come, enjoy, and relearn some of the ways you can cope with the challenges of life today.
“At the Ready” is also a call to be prepared to not only help yourself and your family, but also to help your neighbors and community prepare, react, and respond to the expected or unexpected.
Radio communicators such as Amateur (Ham) and GMRS Radio operators are the glue and the connection when other communications methods are gone. We are your neighbors, the person in the next apartment, the one with those funny antennas on his car next to you on the road, we’re working beside you at the office, and we may sit beside you at church. With about 780,000 radio operators in the United States alone, we’re all around and ready to help.
Those with radio communications skills are better equipped to help themselves, their communities, and our nation during those difficult times. Come visit us at Hamfest Chattanooga, our vendors, and other community-minded individuals and learn about the fun, importance, and satisfaction that radio communications has to offer. Who knows? Some day, your communications skills may save a life. Pair those communications skills with the other elements of being prepared…wow! What a combination of know-how, self-reliance, and preparedness. Learn more and be “At the Ready”.
Hamfest Chattanooga – Location, Days & Operating Hours
City of East Ridge Community Center
1515 Tombras Avenue
East Ridge, TN 37412
1 mile off I-75 at the Tennessee-Georgia Stateline (Exit 1).
- Thursday, October 19, 2023 – All Day Setup for Vendors (Primarily for Inside Vendors)
(Doors open at 2pm – 9pm ET for vendor setup.) - Friday, October 20, 2023
- Morning Setup for Vendors
- Outside Flea Market Opens at 1 PM ET
(Outside setup starts at 10AM ET) - Show Hours 1 – 7 PM ET
- Saturday, October 21, 2023
- Outside Flea Market Opens at 7 AM ET
- Inside Show Hours 8 – 3 PM ET
FCC Test Session 1 PM ET
Get Your Ham Radio License Now! You can do it.
Hamfest Chattanooga 2023 consists of several inside areas and one outside area (Flea Market / Boneyard). All inside space is by reservation only. The main floor (gym) is adjoined by Room 1 (Forums) and Room 2 (additional vendor space).
Outside space is on a first come, first served basis. When you arrive, select your space and pay for the space(s) you decide to use. Hamfest Staff will be on-hand to assist you.
Please note that we do not provide nighttime security for any outside areas, so secure your goods, trailers, etc., if you are leaving anything overnight.
Room 2
Main Floor (Gym)
2023-08-25 Please note that spaces in yellow are already reserved. Orange denotes a pending reservation. Thank you.
Want space at our hamfest? Complete and submit the form below.
Welcome to Hamfest Chattanooga 2023.
Please do your best to ensure accuracy when you complete & submit the form below. The information you provide triggers several automated processes so help us keep our administrative efforts moving along to serve you better. Thank you.
Inside Show Admission.
Guests Ages 18 & Over: $10 per person (covers both days) – Cash Only for Admission. No ATM is available on-site.
Guests Under 18: Free
Inside Commercial Amateur Radio Vendors will receive two show admissions with the purchase of two or more tables.
Inside Flea Market Vendors will receive one show admission with a minimum of one table rented.
Outside Flea Market Vendors will receive one show admission with a minimum of one parking space rented.
Outside Flea Market Space.
- As last year, our outside space is located on the north side of the community center between the main building and the police station. There are about 53 parking spaces in the Outside Flea Market.
- Please be mindful of the weather forecast. It is October. No refunds for inclement weather.
- Parking spaces in the Outside Flea Market are $10 for the first space, then $5 per additional space (max. 3 spaces). In case of inclement weather, Outside Flea Market Vendors may use pop-up tent canopies provided they stay within the confines of the space rented.
- Fees paid cover both days of the show.
- Admission is NOT required to shop in the Outdoor Flea Market. Only those selling are required to pay.
Table Pricing.
The first 6-foot, covered table is $20. Each additional covered table is only $15.00. Due to the venue size, there may be a per vendor limit on the number of tables. We will work with you as best we can to accommodate the number of tables needed. We’re sorry, but a 6-foot table length is a venue requirement. An appropriate number of chairs will be provided per vendor.
Forums.
Our forum schedule and topics is being finalized now. So come back later to see our exciting topics and presenters.
On-Site RV Parking/Overnight Camping.
Due to the construction of a Family Dog Park near the Community Center, no overnight RV parking or overnight camping is allowed…no exceptions. RV’s may be parked behind the building during show hours but must be removed when the show closes each day. Commercial RV campgrounds are available nearby and also at Camp Jordan Arena. Overnight parking with hookups are available at Camp Jordan RV Park for $20 per night. Call 423-486-2034 for more info.
On-Site Food.
Food and drink will be available from the official City of East Ridge on-site food vendor, Carpenter Family Concessions. They have a reputation for great food, so plan to enjoy their services.
Recognized Amateur Radio Club or Groups.
If you represent a recognized Amateur Radio Club or group, we may have low- or no cost space available for you. Just make a reservation and we’ll be in touch.
We have inside (heated/cooled) space and an outside flea market directly in front of the building. The entire building is available to us this year.
Since the community center is a smaller venue, it is extremely important that you make your inside space reservation now. No payment is required now so please complete the simple on-line space request form to reserve your space. We’ll do our best to honor your location request if possible but as with many things, the early bird gets the worm!
Animals at Hamfest.
We all love our pets and service animals. If you plan to travel with your pet or service animal and bring them along, please be aware of the following City of East Ridge rules regarding animals on-site. Please note that the City makes a distinction between animals being inside buildings and in outside venues.
- Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), only dogs are officially classified as “service animals”. Service dog owners are afforded special rights and protections under ADA.
- “Emotional” support dogs are not the same as a service dog.
- Only service dogs (as defined by ADA) are permitted inside any City of East Ridge Parks & Recreation Building. This includes the building used by Hamfest.
- Leashed pets are permitted outside the building and in City of East Ridge parks subject to the rules identified here.
The gist of this is that no animals other than ADA-compliant service dogs are allowed inside the building.
There is a new (2022) dog park next door to the Hamfest building for your dog to enjoy.
More information about service dogs and ADA is available at this website.
Talk-In Service.
On-Air assistance with directions and general information will be available on Friday, October 20th, and Saturday, October 21th through the courtesy of Repeater 146.790 repeater or Echolink Node 79190.
As we say in The South…for those that aren’t from around these parts…the repeater owner says the .790 repeater doesn’t use a tone on receive but does transmit using 107.2. So for receiving, a carrier-only signal will get you into the machine.
North Georgia GMRS Network
Our Hamfest Chattanooga 2023 Premier Partner
A non-profit organization providing over 52,000 square miles of linked repeater coverage for its members and their families with professional grade repeaters and know-how.
Chatt Radio
“We Are Your One Stop Radio Shop.”
Admission & Door Prize Policy.
Our Admission & Door Prize Policy is intended to promote the maximum opportunity for our guests to attend and participate in door prizes. As is customary, the members of the Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club (CARC) have excluded themselves from participating in door prizes at Hamfest Chattanooga 2023. They welcome you to attend our show and hope that your door prize entry is a winner! Complete rules will be posted soon. Please note that those participating in door prize drawings must be present to win.
Important News.
The Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club has now expanded the scope of interest for Hamfest Chattanooga to include companies, organizations, and guests with interests in Preparedness, GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) Communications, and outdoor-related activities. These are related areas which benefit from each other and directly support the longstanding goal of being ready when infrastructure fails and disaster strikes. Service to community, family, and individuals has always been a hallmark of Amateur Radio & GMRS Service.
Recent changes by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to GMRS licensing now make it even easier for families and individuals to have high quality radio communications through Amateur (Ham) Radio and GMRS. The Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club considers GMRS as a kindred spirit of service to those wishing to advance the art & science of radio thereby increase their level of readiness & capability when normal communications fail.
Leading the GMRS segment of Hamfest Chattanooga 2023 will be the North Georgia GMRS Network (NGGMRS) … the largest, contiguous GMRS network in the United States. Since 2007, NGGMRS has continued to expand its coverage area (now in excess of 52,000 square miles) to serve an ever expanding territory with commercial grade equipment, know-how, and a sincere desire to serve families, individuals, and communities with communications via RF- and linked repeaters. Weekly nets provide NGGMRS members and guests a friendly, controlled radio environment to learn, share, and encourage those in their radio journey and to be ready when things go wrong. NGGMRS will also host several forums at Hamfest Chattanooga on a variety of interesting topics.
Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in Hamfest Chattanooga 2023 as a vendor or guest. Vendor spaces are still available but don’t wait. Just scroll back to the top of this page to make your space reservation request.
If you would like to help with Hamfest Chattanooga 2023, just an email hamfest@w4am.net. Let us know your availability and if you have work preferences. We’ll get with you to work out the details.
