WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #20-52

SPARCFEST 2020 CANCELLED – TAMPA BAY HAMFEST STILL SCHEDULED

On Wednesday October 14, the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club, as known by the name SPARC, announced on their website that the SPARCFEST 2020 that was to be held on Saturday November 14, 2020 at Freedom Lake Park in Pinellas Park was cancelled.  According to a statement on the SPARC website, the cancellation was due to a limitation of 50 persons being able to be in Freedom Lake Park.

On Wednesday October 15, the Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council met via Zoom and decided to go ahead and conduct the Tampa Bay Hamfest 2020 but with some modifications.  Bill Willams AG4QX, President of the Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council, issued the following statement on the FGCARC website, “October 14th, the Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council met and decided to have the Hamfest as scheduled but with some changes to accommodate the Covid 19 situation.  The major change is that we will not be using the Expo building.  The whole Hamfest will take place in the block between Lemon St and Woodrow Wilson St including the two buildings there.  Most of the selling will be in the tailgate area.  Everything is not yet settled so we have suspended sales of tickets for a few weeks while details are worked out.  Thank you for your patience and stay tuned for further details.”  The ARRL West Central Florida Section is still planning on having a booth at the Tampa Bay Hamfest and to hold the ARRL forum as circumstances permit.  As more details are worked out, further information will be released in a future WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE.

END OF PRESS RELEASE