[AMRadio] hamfest?

[Geoff]

On 2/13/2012 6:58 PM, Bernie Doran wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Todd, KA1KAQ"<ka1kaq at gmail.com>
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service"
> <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] hamfest?
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Bill McCourt - WF1L
> <wemccourt at yahoo.com>  wrote:
>
>> While I bemoan the loss of quality "junque" at hamfests with all of you,
>> they are still a great place to socialize and meet some of the folks that
>> you talk to on the air but never see face to face.
> Which, as we all get older, becomes more of what we enjoy about the
> event. Right on the money, Bill.
>
> There's a Friday night AM Dinner at NEAR-Fest along with breakfast
> gatherings and the like, along with the typical jawing at the event.
> If nothing else, a selling table provide a great place to rest, meet
> up with friends, and perhaps even sell something if you're
> so-inclined.
>

The "Belton Hamfest" is like that.  RV's start showing up in the Bell 
County Expo Center, in Belton, TX as early as Wednesday.  Old timers, 
mostly, who are out RV'ing and enjoying visiting and putting faces with 
voices.  Most of the 'early' crew gets there Friday morning, a BBQ pit 
is cranked up, more hams show up, yarns are spun, more hams show up, 
deals are made, more hams show up,  hands are shook, more hams show up, 
hugs to the women that allow that sort of social thing.. instruments are 
brought and played into the evening, more hams show up and the Majority 
of the 'attendee's' show up on Saturday morning.

New radios, old radios, CB radios, Microwave radios, Antique radios, 
keys, paddles, and yes, there are yarn kits and necklaces... there are 
some vendors inside and a usually well represented tail-gate out where 
the BBQ pit is.

The Temple ARC (who runs the show) nails it when they call Belton the 
"Friendliest Hamfest in the State of Texas!"