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The Cullman hamfest has been a staple of the north Alabama radio community for many years.  In years past, the hamfest was held in the city civic center, which was torn down several years ago.  Supposedly the city was going to build a new civic center, but that effort seems to be slow getting started. The 2022 hamfest was held in Building #1 at the Cullman Fairgrounds.  It is a large, metal building with no air conditioning, and the hamfest was held in July.  In Alabama.  Normally, that would sound like a really bad idea (temps were hovering around 90...

Capitol City Hamfest.  I just needed to get that phrase said on the front end, and be done with it.  Nobody I know actually calls it that, everyone calls it the "Jackson Hamfest", with no further explanation needed.   This is the granddaddy of all Mississippi hamfests, and it (usually) pulls a good crows.  Attendance seemed to be down in 2022, but we were just coming out of the pandemic era, and a lot of folks were probably still skittish about getting out in public.  A lot of folks were still wearing face masks at the event. This took place in...

This may be the most unusual hamfest we've ever attended.   Super nice folks (not that unusual), everything was outside (not that unusual), and everything was free (highly unusual). By "everything", I mean tables were free.  Lunch was free.  Admission was free. Homemade deserts were free. This takes place at a very nice public park, at a pavilion at the end of a dead-end road.  Clean restrooms are nearby.   The tables lined the gravel road, and maybe a dozen flea market tables of one sort or another popped up around 8 AM.  Most folks literally operated from their tailgates.  Lunch (...

With apologies to all the other hamfests in our area, the Black Warrior Hamfest is the friendliest hamfest within driving distance of Starkville. I like all the hamfests we've been to this year, but to be honest, the Black Warrior Hamfest has it figured out.   The most recent Black Warrior Hamfest was in June, 2022. When I asked to reserved some vendor tables, they messaged back and then even called to talk about what we needed. When we arrived, volunteers descended upon us and insisted on helping lug/tote/carry our gear into the building. "Are these tables okay?" Yes, thanks. "Need...