Slidell EOC Hamfest ** NEW DATES *** rescheduled to October 16 & 17, 2026

From our hamfest coordinator:

Hello all Hams and Radio Enthusiasts;
Due to a venue scheduling conflict, the 2026 Slidell EOC Hamfest has been rescheduled to October 16 & 17, 2026 at the Slidell Auditorium. Please see the attached file in this post for more information times, prizes and parking areas.
Please share this post with all that you can. If you have started any post or shared any of my previous posts on the September 4/5 dates, please delete them or replace them with this post.
If you have reserved flea market tables and you cannot make the new dates please email us at hamfest@w5sla for a refund.
Info on why we had to reschedule:
Last week I announced that we had a scheduling conflict with another event happening at the Slidell Auditorium. Unfortunately, the conflict was caused by miscommunications on my part and therefore we lost the auditorium for those dates. I would like to thank the many Hams that responded directly to me from that post with possible suggestions. Some recommended new dates that would make our fest better and some even went out and tried to arrange for a new venue to have the fest on the same dates…THANK YOU! However, time constraints and vendor feedback did not make a change of venue possible. Unfortunately, the available dates, did not work out for two of our vendors because of prior commitments (Chatt Radio and the Sign Man). In addition, feedback from our vendors recommended moving our dates into the middle of November. This would enable them to more likely come to our fest due to: 1) less likelihood of a hurricane; 2) cooler temps for off/on loading their products; 3) less likely to coincide with other hamfests in our division. With this in mind, next year we are planning for a November 12 & 13th, 2027 Slidell hamfest date.
Even with the loss of these two vendors, we will still have a great hamfest. The prizes and forums will be the same as before and you will be able to get some eyeball QSO’s of hams you haven’t seen in a while.
What many may not know is that the OARC Slidell EOC Hamfest supports our maintenance and tower rental of many of the repeaters on the Northshore (145.01 digipeater, 147.27 Analog/DMR repeater, 442.125 Analog/Fusion repeater; 462.650 GMRS repeater; 462.725 GMRS repeater and soon to be 144.39 APRS repeater). Please support the hamfest this year if you can.
73,
Dave Hartley, K5OZ
2026 Slidell EOC Hamfest Coordinator
hamfest@w5sla.net

 

More time to save up some $$$$! And cooler temperatures = less car troubles.

 

Follow the Slidell EOC Hamfest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlidellHamfest/

 

If you will be visiting from out of town, OARC has secured a limited number of hotel rooms at the Wingate by Wyndham, which is only about 3 miles from the hamfest location. You can book a room at the rate of $85 per night by clicking this link:
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/winga...6&checkOutDate=10/18/2026&groupCode=101526HAM