2025 Events Schedule
dennisricketts1
Please note that these will be announced several weeks before they are held, to request volunteers who are interested to attend/participate.
Generally used Simplex frequencies at events. Sometimes, communications are in local repeaters. Please make sure that you have the following frequencies programmed into your HT’s and Home/Mobile radios.
146.52, 146.460, 146.550, 148.580, 147.405, 147.555.
1) ARRL Field Day 2025 – Held at the Northampton Christian Church 1409 Todds Ln, Hampton, VA 23666. This is a joint event held with SPARK, PARC and the HPST.
27 June – Preliminary set up. In the afternoon. Time TBA.
28-29 June – This event runs for 24 hours, beginning at 14:00 on Saturday, ending at 14:00 on Sunday.
There will be an informal breakfast gathering at the Waffle House 2800 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton, VA 23666 at 08:00 on Saturday morning, with the station set up on site beginning afterwards. Teardown of the site will be held after the conclusion of the event.
2) 05 October – The Crawling Crab half-marathon. This event is held in the Coliseum Central area of Hampton starting at the Hampton Coliseum, running an event course that covers a large amount of central Hampton. This event starts at 07:30, with a minimal on-site time of 06:00, due to extensive road closures in the area of the event. Wear weather appropriate reflective coats or vests, gloves. Have your HT, programmed with the used repeater/simplex frequencies. Bring extra batteries for your radio. Bring a lighted wand. Bring your name tag on a lanyard.
3) 25 October – The Northampton Christian Church Trunk or Treat event. 1409 Todds Ln, Hampton, VA 23666. The time for this event is TBA. It usually lasts around 3 hours. This is primarily a parking event. Wear appropriate shoes due to parking primarily being held off surface in the grass. Wear weather appropriate reflective coats or vests, gloves. Have your HT, programmed with the used repeater/simplex frequencies. Bring extra batteries for your radio. Bring a lighted wand. Bring your name tag on a lanyard.
4) 1 November - The KHS Warrior Band Classic Competition. Held at Darling Stadium. Normal arrival time on site for radio volunteers is around 12:30 (due to parking concerns). This is a volunteer heavy event due to multiple stations in the event area. This event has a variable start/ending time, due to the number of bands participating in this competition. Your exit time for this event can be from 20:00-21:00. Wear weather appropriate reflective coats or vests, gloves. Have your HT, programmed with the used repeater/simplex frequencies. Bring extra batteries for your radio. Bring a lighted wand. Bring your name tag on a lanyard.
5) 08 November – The Veterans Parade held in the Phoebus area of Hampton VA. Arrival time will be 07:00, in the parking lot behind Mango Mangeaux 33 E Mellen St, Hampton, VA 23663, with the parade’s finishing position on Fort Monroe. The volunteer need for this event will be high, with marshaling the parade, and having place monitors along the parade route onto Fr Monroe. We will request several golf carts to assist with the marshalling of the units, and the placement and retrieval of radio volunteers along the parade route. Wear weather appropriate reflective coats or vests, gloves. Have your HT, programmed with the used repeater/simplex frequencies. Bring extra batteries for your radio. Bring a lighted wand. Bring your name tag on a lanyard.
6) 02 December – Joint meeting/potluck dinner held by SPARK, the HPST and PARC. Location is at the Ladies Auxiliary building located at 807 Dorsetshire Terrace (just behind the Northampton Christian Church). A survey will be posted, where you can sign up responding with the dish you are bringing.
7) 06 December – The Hampton Holiday Parade held in Downtown Hampton. Arrival time is TBA. Will confirm with Hampton Parks and Rec. We will request 1, or 2, golf carts for use by the radio volunteers. This event, like the Veterans Parade, is a heavy use volunteer event. We will be marshaling the parade units along a lengthy area. Wear weather appropriate reflective coats or vests, gloves. Have your HT, programmed with the used repeater/simplex frequencies. Bring extra batteries for your radio. Bring a lighted wand. Bring your name tag on a lanyard.
8) 13 December – Wreaths Across America. This is an Unofficial event to participate in. Wreaths are laid at the Hampton National Cemetery (VAMC) on the grounds of Hampton University Emancipation Dr, Hampton, VA 23669, and continuing at the Hampton National Cemetery annex on 99 W County St, Hampton, VA 23663. Time is TBA. The event usually is 2 hours in length. Wear weather appropriate reflective coats or vests, gloves. Bring your name tag on a lanyard.
The Tidewater Hamfest will be held on 13 August at the Ambassador Club 364 Peninsula Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23704, USA. This event will run from 09:00 until 15:00. Tickets will be available from KD4JDY.
SPARK – Meetings held on the 1st Tuesday of each month. They are held at the Northampton Christian Church 1409 Todds Ln, Hampton, VA 23666. The meetings start at 19:15.
There is a pre-meeting dinner held at 18:00 at Anna’s 1156 Big Bethel Rd, Hampton, VA 23666.
PARC - Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month (with the exception of the day of the joint meeting/dinner in December). The meetings are held at Brittingham-Midtown Community Center located at 570 McLawhorne Dr, Newport News, VA 23601. Room assignment is TBA at the meeting site.
There is a pre-meeting dinner held at 17:00 at The Rocky Mount BBQ House 10113 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23605.
The Hampton Public Service Team – HPT has its meeting/breakfast, typically on the last Saturday of the month at 09:00. The location is at the Elks Lodge 2204 Mingee Dr, Hampton, VA 23661. Cost is TBA at site.
There is a scheduled Technician level class scheduled to start of 06 September, to run for 6 consecutive Saturdays. Each session is from 09:30 until 13:00. The test session for this class will be held on 18 October.
If you attend this class, or test for technician level make sure that you are using the current book, which is ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 5th Edition ISBN: 978-1-62595-155-7
“The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual will guide you as you get started in the hobby – as you select your equipment, set-up your first station, and make your first contact. Use this best-selling study guide to prepare for the 35-question Technician class license exam. Includes the entire question pool with answer key, for use through June 30, 2026.”
09/06/2025
Start/End Dates: 09/06/2025 - 10/11/2025
Times: 0900 - 1300 / 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
# of Sessions: 6
Class level: Technician
Morse code offered: No
Pre register required: Yes
Fee: 0
Pre Study required: No
Class Type: Traditional
Exam offered: No
Sponsoring Club/Organization: Southern Peninsula
Amateur Radio Klub
Instructor: KJ4MZ
Contact: Don Mertz KJ4MZ
Phone: (757) 268-4622
Email: don....@gmail.com
Location: American Red Cross
1323 W. Pembroke Avenue
Hampton, VA 23661
Scheduled ARRL Exam Sessions. If you are a VE and wish to participate, or you are a Ham wishing to test, please notify Don Mertz. All of these exam sessions will be held at the American Red Cross 1323 West Pembroke Ave Hampton VA 23661. VE’s are requested to arrive 30 minutes prior for site set up.
Sponsor: Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Aug 16 2025
Time: 9:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Don C. Mertz
(757) 268-4622
Email: don....@gmail.com
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: American Red Cross
1323 West Pembroke Ave
Hampton VA 23661
Website: https://w4hpt.net/
10/18/2025
Sponsor: Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Oct 18 2025
Time: 9:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Don C. Mertz
(757) 268-4622
Email: don....@gmail.com
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: American Red Cross
1323 W Pembroke Ave
Hampton VA 23661-1123
12/13/2025
Sponsor: Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Dec 13 2025
Time: 9:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Don C. Mertz
(757) 268-4622
Email: don....@gmail.com
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: American Red Cross
1323 W Pembroke Ave
Hampton VA 23661-1123