The 2024 Huntsville Hamfest was held August 17/18 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL. As usual, the hamfest ran like a well-oiled machine. There was one hiccup early on, when one of the big entry doors (the one used for exiting the building) used for getting vendors in and out broke on Thursday night during setup, forcing the hamfest crew to bring vendor vehicles in, turn them around, and send them back out the same door being used for vendors entering. Much to the credit of the Huntsville group, they had a couple of hams walking down the line of waiting cars to tell them why there was a delay in entering. Once in the building, the hometown crew lined up to unload the vendors and cart their loads to their tables. This made for a very easy and smooth vendor load-in, plus it allowed the Huntsville crew to get the vendor vehicles turned around and out as soon as possible. What would have been a giant event cluster almost anywhere else was handled smoothly, efficiently, and gracefully.
The event itself was full, with all tables sold, and a record number (nearly 6,000) of attendees. As always, the Von Braun Center was clean and well lighted, the restrooms well stocked, and made for a comfortable place to spend two days.
Setup was Friday afternoon, the hamfest was Saturday and Sunday.
Regionally-famous Stan Lee visiting the FatCat.Parts booth.
T-shirt that doesn't fall into the "promises kept" category.
Another t-shirt that we can't argue with.
The view of the hamfest on Friday afternoon, during setup.
TThe opening moments of the 2024 Huntsville Hamfest. Gracious, what a mob!