OARC Carp Hamfest on September 12th was, once again, a big success! It remains the region’s largest Amateur Radio flea market and trade show, featuring most of the big ham radio retailers, fellow hams selling radio goodies at unbelievable prices, and major door prizes. This is the OARC’s annual flagship event!
*** This report is a work in progress. More Carp Hamfest 2026 details and photos, as well as Ed’s official Hamfest report, will be added as possible. ***
Huge crowds and great door prizes!
Hundreds of people came out to OARC Carp Hamfest this year – more precise numbers will be added to this report shortly.
A big thank you our 2026 commercial vendors who generously donate our many fantastic door prizes!
- Retevis Canada
- Harold Macfarlane
- Gerald Lemay Books
- Radio Communication Alexandria
- Peppers Radio Communications
- Sassi Designs – Custom Logo Items
- Peppers Radio
- Icom Canada – not able to attend but is sending a fantastic door prize
- Radioworld – not able to attend but is providing gift cards
Exhibitors and organizations include: Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), West Carleton Disaster Relief, Diefenbunker, Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA), several regional Amateur Radio clubs, and more.
Amateur Radio exams written on-site at Carp Hamfest 2026, supervised by Mike, VE3FFK
9 exams
1 was a failed attempt to upgrade to Basic with Honours from Basic
1 was a failed CW attempt. The candidate passed sending but not receiving
2 were upgrades to Advanced qualification
5 were new hams who all got Basic with Honours
Volunteers
As always, Carp Hamfest simply would not happen without our volunteers!
Ed, VE3WGO, has been delivering Carp Hamfest since 2007 and we’re all so grateful to Ed for his organizational skills and boundless energy. Ed is supported Greg, VE3YTZ, and Janice, VA3PAX, in key setup and financial roles and by many other volunteers who fill all these roles:
- venue setup (afternoon of the day before)
- road sign set-up and take-down
- parking lot and tailgate relations
- vendor registration
- front-door ticket seller
- inside vendor relations
- photographer
- talk-in (on-air notice on local repeaters)
- announcer
- OARC membership and extras table
- venue tear down and clean up
Ed’s official Carp Hamfest 2026
[report will be added here after he presents it at the September 28 OARC Monthly Meeting]
Photos of the Friday set-up and the front desk teams courtesy of Greg, VE3YTZ (click to enlarge)
Other photos from Carp Hamfest 2026 courtesy of Kevin/VA3RCA and Greg/VE3YTZ (click to enlarge)
Click this link to see many more photos, including many detailed shots of the all the stuff on the tables, courtesy of Greg, VE3YTZ.
Last Updated on 2026-09-18 by Joannadanna