Tidewater Radio Conventions, Inc. (TRCI) is a coalition of licensed amateur radio groups that has hosted the primary hamfest for the Hampton Roads region for roughly four decades. As the amateur radio hobby evolved and the internet changed how operators buy and sell gear, the organization has adapted the size, name, and location of its annual gathering.
The Virginia Beach Convention Center (1980s – Late 2010s)
For over 30 years, TRCI’s signature event was widely known as the Virginia Beach Hamfest. Traditionally held on the third Saturday of September, the event occupied the Virginia Beach Convention Center. During its peak decades, it was a massive draw for amateur radio enthusiasts across the East Coast, bringing in around 6,500 attendees to take licensing exams, swap vintage radios, and network. However, by 2016, TRCI leadership noted that the rise of online equipment sales had reduced the annual turnout to between 1,000 and 1,500 attendees.
The Ambassador Club of Portsmouth (Early 2020s)
As attendance normalized in the internet age, the massive footprint of a city convention center was no longer necessary. TRCI relocated the gathering to the Ambassador Club of Portsmouth on Peninsula Avenue and shifted the schedule to August. Operating under the name Tidewater Hamfest and Swap Meet, this venue provided a more tailored, cost-effective space for indoor vendor tables, tailgating, and the traditional swap meet.
Knights of Columbus Hall, Newport News (2026)
Most recently, TRCI moved the event across the water to the Virginia Peninsula. Rebranded for 2026 as the Southeastern Virginia Regional Ham Radio Fest & Swap Meet, the event is now held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Nettles Drive in Newport News. The modernized venue offers a central location for the wider Hampton Roads community, continuing the tradition of outdoor tailgating, indoor vendor tables, technical forums, and ARRL VEC licensing exams.