Indiana Hamfests
A hamfest is a gathering of amateur radio operators — part swap meet, part convention. You'll typically find commercial vendors and a tailgate/flea market selling new and used gear, special-interest forums and presentations, door prizes, and on-site license exam (VE) sessions. They are a great place to find a bargain, meet local hams, and pick up your first radio.
Dates change every year, so the table below lists each event's host city and the month it is typically held. Always confirm the current date on the official ARRL calendar before you make the drive.
Open the live ARRL Hamfests & Conventions Calendar — filter by State: Indiana (or ARRL Central Division / Indiana Section) for current, confirmed dates.
Upcoming Indiana hamfests (2026)
These dates were confirmed from the official ARRL listing and the host clubs for the 2026 season. As always, double-check the host's page before traveling — details can change.
| Date | Hamfest | City / Venue | Host/Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jun 13, 2026 | Monroe County Hamfest | Bloomington (Monroe County Fairgrounds) | Bloomington ARC |
| Sat, Jul 18, 2026 | Auburn Hamfest | Auburn (DeKalb County) | Northeastern Indiana ARA (NIARA) |
| Sat, Jul 18, 2026 | LaPorte Tailgate Hamfest | LaPorte (LaPorte County) | LaPorte County ARC |
| Sat, Jul 25, 2026 | East Central Indiana Hamfest | Portland (Jay County Fairgrounds) | Jay County & Whitewater Valley ARCs |
| Sat, Aug 1, 2026 | Burning Ham! | Sellersburg (Clark County) | Clark County ARC |
| Sat, Aug 15, 2026 | ARANCI Hamfest | Winfield (Newton County) | Amateur Radio Assoc. of Newton County, Indiana |
| Sat, Nov 28, 2026 | WVARA TurkeyFest | Brazil (Clay County 4-H Fairgrounds) | Wabash Valley ARA |
Well-known recurring Indiana hamfests
| Hamfest | City/Area | Typically held | Host/Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne Hamfest & Computer Expo (ARRL Indiana State Convention) | Fort Wayne (Allen County) | November | Allen County ARTS |
| Indianapolis Hamfest | Indianapolis (Marion County Fairgrounds) | July | Indianapolis ARA (Facebook) |
| Hendricks County Hamfest (ARRL Indiana Section Convention) | Danville (Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds) | February | Hendricks County ARS |
| Columbus Indiana Hamfest | Columbus (Bartholomew County) | Spring (April) | Columbus ARC |
| North Central Indiana Hamfest | Peru (Miami County 4-H Fairgrounds) | Spring (April) | Grant / Miami / Cass / Kokomo clubs |
| East Central Indiana Hamfest | Portland (Jay County Fairgrounds) | July | Jay County & Whitewater Valley ARCs |
This list isn't exhaustive — smaller club hamfests and tailgate events come and go. For the complete, up-to-date schedule, always check the ARRL calendar.
Related pages
Most hamfests are run by local radio clubs — browse the clubs directory to find one near you. And because license testing is often held at hamfests, see the exam sessions page for what to expect and how to prepare.