70th Annual Shelby Hamfest: Everything You Need to Know
The Shelby Amateur Radio Club is marking 70 years of its Labor Day weekend hamfest this September, and the Cleveland County Fairgrounds will once again fill with radio gear, flea market tables, and the kind of conversation that only happens when a few thousand hams get together in one place. If you're mapping out a trip to Shelby for the event, here's what's confirmed so far and what you'll want to plan around.
Shelby Hamfest 2026 at a Glance
- Event: 70th Annual Shelby Hamfest (ARRL North Carolina State Convention)
- Dates: Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5, 2026 (Labor Day weekend)
- Location: Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 1751 E. Marion St., Shelby, NC 28150
- Hosted by: Shelby Amateur Radio Club
- What it is: 2 day gathering for amateur radio operators to buy, sell, trade gear, test licenses, and camp.
- Who attends: Licensed hams, shortwave listeners, radio equipment dealers, and families tagging along.
- Official website: shelbyhamfest.com
- Talk-in frequency: 146.880 MHz (-), 67.0 Hz tone
What Is the Shelby Hamfest?
A hamfest is part swap meet, part trade show, part reunion. Amateur radio operators, known as hams, come together to buy and sell equipment, test their license upgrades, sit in on technical forums, and catch up with people they may only see once a year. The Shelby Hamfest is one of the older and larger gatherings of its kind in the Southeast, and its designation as the ARRL North Carolina State Convention gives it added standing within the amateur radio community statewide.
For newcomers, the appeal is straightforward. Tables of new and vintage radios, antennas, and electronics fill Goforth Hall and Weathers Arena, along with outdoor vendor rows and a first-come, first-served flea market area where private sellers set up. If you're licensed and looking to upgrade, or you're studying for your first ticket, testing sessions run through the weekend. If you just want to see what the hobby is about, walking the grounds for an afternoon will tell you more than an hour of reading online.
What to Expect at the 70th Annual Shelby Hamfest
The 2026 event runs Friday and Saturday, with gates opening at 7:00 AM both days and Goforth Hall opening to the public at 8:00 AM each morning. Admission is $10, and tickets purchased in advance are handled as will-call, picked up at arrival rather than mailed.
Vendors have two main options. Indoor space in Goforth Hall and Weathers Arena keeps gear out of the weather, while outdoor commercial and flea market spaces sit throughout the grounds. Vendor move-in for the 2026 event begins after 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 3, with buildings open until 8:00 PM for setup.
VE license testing is scheduled for Saturday, September 5 at 2:00 PM, with the exact location on the fairgrounds still to be announced. In past years the hamfest has also run technical forums, prize drawings open to ticket holders, food vendors on site, and RV and tent camping for the week surrounding the event. The organizers note they're continuing to update the event website, so anyone planning to test, camp, or set up a vendor table should check shelbyhamfest.com closer to the date for finalized locations and hours.
Planning Your Visit
Shelby sits in the North Carolina Piedmont, roughly 35 miles west of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, so a Labor Day weekend visit means driving through the tail end of a Carolina summer. Expect warm, humid days and pack accordingly, especially if you're spending time outdoors browsing the flea market tables.
Both event days start early, with gates at 7:00 AM, so if you're coming from out of town, plan your morning around that rather than a leisurely check-out. Parking is handled on site at the fairgrounds, with handicap parking available, and golf carts can be rented on the grounds for anyone who needs help covering the distance between buildings. Bring cash or a card for admission and vendor purchases, and if you're testing for a license or upgrade, bring photo ID and your FCC Registration Number (FRN).
Food vendors typically operate on the fairgrounds both days with breakfast and lunch options, along with fair-style staples. If you'd rather sit down at a restaurant, Shelby has several options a short drive from the fairgrounds. Anyone staying more than a single day should book a hotel room or a camping spot in advance, since Labor Day weekend draws a crowd to the fairgrounds and to Cleveland County generally.
Things to Do in Shelby While You're Here
If you're building a full weekend around the hamfest, Uptown Shelby is worth the short drive from the fairgrounds. The district centers on the Earl Scruggs Center, a museum housed in the town's former 1907 courthouse that tells the story of the bluegrass banjo pioneer, who was born in Cleveland County. A few blocks away, the Don Gibson Theatre hosts touring music acts and honors Shelby's other well-known musical export, the songwriter behind "I Can't Stop Loving You."
Uptown's streets are also lined with local shops, galleries, and places to eat, making it an easy stop for a couple of hours between hamfest sessions. For barbecue, Bridges BBQ Lodge has been serving the area since 1946 and is one of the region's better-known spots for a plate of pulled pork.
Where to Stay for the Shelby Hamfest
Camping is part of the Shelby Hamfest tradition, and plenty of attendees spend the week on the fairgrounds. If a hotel room is more your speed, especially for a shorter trip, Comfort Inn Shelby NC sits on East Marion Street, the same road as the fairgrounds, at 2012 East Marion Street.
The hotel has 76 rooms, including king and double queen layouts, with free Wi-Fi, microwaves, coffee makers, and work desks in each room. On site, there's a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness center, and complimentary breakfast to fuel an early gate time. Check-in is at 3:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM, and the hotel does not accept pets.
For dining beyond the hotel breakfast, Denny's, Golden Corral, Fatz Southern Kitchen, and Bridges BBQ are all nearby, covering everything from a quick breakfast to a sit-down barbecue dinner. For a two-day event with early gates both mornings, having a room close to the fairgrounds means one less thing to plan around, whether or not camping is part of your trip.
Make Your Shelby Hamfest Weekend Easier
- Confirm your ticket and will-call pickup before arriving.
- Bring ID and your FRN for Saturday testing.
- Check shelbyhamfest.com for updated event details.
- Prepare for warm, humid weather and early gates.
- Book your room or camping spot early for Labor Day weekend.
Final Thoughts
Seventy years is a long run for any hamfest, and the Shelby Amateur Radio Club has kept this one going as one of the region's steady fixtures on the amateur radio calendar. Whether you're coming for the vendor tables, the testing session, or just to see what a hamfest looks like in person, Shelby is an easy place to base a Labor Day weekend trip, with Comfort Inn Shelby NC sitting a short drive down the same street as the fairgrounds if a bed and a pool sound better than a tent.
