Orange
Hamfest 2026
Our 51st year!
Hosted by:
Orange ARC, Jefferson County ARC and Beaumont ARC
The Orange Hamfest is an ARRL sanctioned event.
WHEN: Friday/Saturday, February 27th – 28th, 2026
– A Two-Day Event!
WHERE: Orange County Convention & Expo Center @ 11475 FM 1442
Orange, Texas 77632
(Coordinates: 30 07.28N & 093 52.92W or
30.1244,-93.8922)
Hamfest TIME: Feb. 27th - 1PM to 6:30PM and Feb.
28th - 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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Map for directions to the Orange Hamfest >>>
Take the 869 Exit off of IH-10 going
East or West and turn South on FM 1442 and
the Orange Co. Convention and
Expo Center is half mile on the right. Follow the signs.
Google Map and Directions from your starting point:
Tailgating available in
designated area, see below:
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The Orange
County Convention and Expo Center is ADA compliant
Assistance
Animals: Service and assistance animals are permitted in all public areas and
at all times.
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Orange Hamfest
Events Schedule and Fees:
Friday Feb. 27th:
6:00
AM – Hall Setup and Preparation
8:00
AM – 12 Noon Commercial Dealers and Vendors Setup – Enter at Vendor Entrance
Only
1:00
PM to 6:30 PM - Hamfest opens for General Admission, flea market, dealers &
tailgating
6:30
PM Friday Dinner at Expo Center
Saturday Feb. 28th:
6:00-7:30
AM- Setup for Dealers, Vendors, and Flea Market
7AM
- 2:00 PM - Hamfest opens for General Admission, Programs & Forums
10:00
AM — VE testing
1:30
PM - Grand Prize Drawings
2:00
PM—Close
FEES:
Admission
…. $10.00 per person for the 2 days (visible wrist band ID required for
admission)
(Age
12 years & younger free admission)
Dealer
tables ………… $15.00 ea. for Friday only or $25 ea. for the two days
Flea
market tables ….. $15.00 ea. for Friday only or $25 ea. for the two days
Tailgate
spaces ………. Free - there is limited spaces in designated tailgating area
Friday Dinner …………$20.00 per plate
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For more information on Lodging:
or visit website
Click Here for Hotels
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2026 Grand Prizes:
Friday
Prize – ICOM IC-2730A
Saturday
1st
Prize – ICOM IC-7300
2nd Prize – YAESU FT-710 Field
3rd Prize – Rig
Expert AA-35 ZOOM
Antenna analyzer
The tickets for the Grand Prize
and door prizes are: $2.00 each or 6 for $10.00, 12 for $20.00, etc.
The Grand Prizes will be drawn at 1:30 p.m. You NEED NOT BE PRESENT for the
Grand Prize drawings.
You MUST BE PRESENT for all door prize drawings.
Door Prize tickets will be put back in for The
Grand Prize Drawings.
2026 Door Prizes
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Many hourly
door prizes Friday and Saturday |
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2026 PROGRAMS and
FORUMS SCHEDULED – Updated 2/26/2026
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Feb
28th - Saturday Scheduled FORUMS |
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TIME |
TOPIC |
MEETING
ROOM |
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8:00 AM
- 9:00 AM |
Meshtastic
Forum Presenter:
Greg Pritchett - WE5D |
Dupont
Room |
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9:00 AM
- 10:00 AM |
The
Apollo Program Unified S-Band System Communications Presenter:
Steve Gomez - KE5O |
Dupont
Room |
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10:00
AM - 11:00 AM |
SWLARC
Comm trailer and SWLA-LINK integration Presenter:
Joshua Johnson KC5JMJ |
Dupont
Room |
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9:00AM
-10:00 AM |
VE
Testing Preparations |
Agri-Life
Room |
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10:00
AM - done |
VE
Testing/Exams in session |
Agri-Life
Room |
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9:00-11:00 AM |
ARRL and ARES Forums Scheduled |
Conference
Room #2 |
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All Meeting / Forum times and content are subject
to change.
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VE
TESTING
VE testing will start
at 10:00 A.M Saturday, Feb. 28th.
No pre-registration is
required for VE Testing, but it is recommended. See Below.
The FCC now requires
new amateur radio applicants to create a FCC user ID
and register for a FCC
Registration Number (FRN)
on the FCC
registration website before taking their examination. See below.
Bring your FRN, the original and a copy of any current FCC License and
any C.S.C.E.’s, picture ID, and $15 (prefer cash) for testing
fee.
We will have the latest forms available
Orange
Hamfest VE Testing/Exam Registration at this QR below:
FCC
Registration for FRN at this QR below:
VE Testing/Exams to be held in Agri-Life
Room
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VENDORS
Confirmed to be at Orange Hamfest
https://www.hamthreads.com/ 
817-602-1834 email: [email protected]
US representatives:
Ken Bush (Amateur Radio):
[email protected]
Reel POTA-ble Antennas
Reel POTA-ble EFHW 40-10M Antennas
Look
for the Reel POTA-ble V2 soon!
https://reelefhw.com/ [email protected]
https://wk5rcircuitboards.godaddysites.com/
Contact at [email protected]
(903)-873-3135
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Hamfest
Sponsors
https://www.easywayhambooks.com/
"All Ham and No Spam"®
https://www.alphaantenna.com/
(888) 482-3249
Email [email protected]
Serving the Amateur Radio
community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
==============================================================================================
Hamfest
Food and Drinks Concessions 2/19/25
Serving Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday
Coke, sodas and other
drinks will be available for extra charge as provided.
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Notice !!! Friday Night!!!
Remember our Friday Dinner (Feb. 27th)
All Hams and their
family, who are in town Friday for the Hamfest,
are invited to eat
with us at the Expo Center at 4pm.
Featuring:
·
Smoked half chicken
with boudin or a link ---To Be Confirmed!
·
potato salad
·
pinto beans
·
desserts
·
condiments
No alcohol allowed.
Serving starts at 4:00 p.m. Don’t be late.
There will be a $20.00 per plate charge for dinner!
Coke, sodas and other
drinks will be available for extra charge as provided.
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Contacts For Hamfest
Table Information:
(409) 988-8906 text, call or leave
a message or Email: [email protected]
Dealers, Vendor and Swap tables are located inside the air-conditioned
Expo Center Ballroom (10,800 sq. ft.) and
Tables will be available for $15. ea. for Friday only or $25.00 ea. table for the two
days for individuals, dealers and vendors.
They may be reserved in advance by completing the Table
Reservation form.
Note change, only one
admission ticket included with table purchase(s).
Dealers, Vendors and Flea market set-up is 8AM-12Noon
Friday (27th) and 6:30AM-9:30AM Saturday (28th).
Unreserved tables will be rented on a first-come/
first-served basis.
Electrical power (110V outlet) is available for most
table locations.
Tables that are reserved but not claimed by 8:30AM
Saturday (28th) will be rented.
The Orange Amateur Radio Club/Hamfest Directors reserves
the right to limit non-Ham Radio oriented sales and their table location.
The sale or display of firearms, weapons and sexually
offensive materials is prohibited.
Hamfest Directors will be fair to resolve any disputes and
have the final decision on any disputes.
There are a limited number of tables for the non-Ham
radio related sales.
These tables will be located in the hallways surrounding
the outside of the Expo Center Ballroom.
Make your reservations now! Over 112 - tables available in the Ball Room.
Approximately 38 - tables are
available as of February 26, 2026.
Additional tables may be available
outside the Ball Room in the Halls for Ham and non-Ham radio related items and
exhibitors.
No refunds on unclaimed tables.
Reserved tables not claimed by 8:30AM the day of the Hamfest,
will be re-rented!!!
EXPO Center Hamfest Table floor plan
To reserve tables – fill out a Table Reservation form and mail to:
Orange Amateur Radio
Club Inc.
P.O. Box 232
Orange, Texas
77631-0232
For table questions you can email us at [email protected] or text, call or leave a message 409-988-8906
Must be postmarked by February 20,
2026
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ORANGE HAMFEST TABLE RESERVATION FORM
–2026****web app Download a PDF doc for Table
Reservation
Name__________________________________
Call __________
Address________________________________
________________________________
Provide Email address
______________________________for a confirmation in lieu of mailed hardcopy,
Number of
Tables ____needed at o$15. ea. for Friday only or o$25.00
ea. table for the two days: _$_________
Confirm if electrical power is needed (oYes / oNo).
Number of additional admission(s)_______ at $10.00 each:
_$____________________
Note change, only one
admission ticket included with your table purchase(s). Additional admission tickets for others are required.
No power cords or power strips provided or
available. Please provide your own power cords.
Power available from the 120-volt outlets
is on a first come/first serve basis, please share!
Total Amount Enclosed
$________________________ (make checks or M.O. payable to Orange Amateur Radio
Club)
For table questions you can email us at [email protected] or text, call or leave a message
409-988-8906
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REGISTRATION TABLE CONFIRMATION -web 2026
Note: For a hardcopy confirmation of your registration,
fill in this part
of the form and send an SASE with your
Table Reservation Form. We also can email you to confirm tables!
Name and Call sign
______________________________________
Amount received ________________________
for ________ tables.
Hamfest representative acknowledgment
________________________ Date ______
Email
_______________________________________________
Page
updated 2/18/26