The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association, Inc. will be holding their annual 59th HAMFEST 2019 in Rayne this month.
The HAMFEST begins Friday March 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday March 9 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The hamfest will be held at the Rayne Civic Center at 300 Frog Festival Drive. Admission is $8.00 for adults and free admission to students with current ID card.
Acadiana Hamfest 2019 hosts educational forums for all ages including AMSAT (which focuses on Amateur Radio’s participation in space research and communication), DX-ing (long distance communication across the globe), and ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services – trained operator volunteers who are organized to assist in public service and emergency communication).
Organizers will also provide FCC license testing for new hams and those wishing to upgrade their radio privileges, as well as a swap shop for hams to buy, sell, and trade items of vintage quality.
They will host an annual “foxhunt” where a small transmitter is hidden on the convention center grounds for young ham enthusiasts to track down using radio direction finding.
