2026 ARRL Field Day June 27 th &28th
Ham Radio’s Open House – Be Part of It!
ARRL Field Day is one of the most exciting events on the amateur radio calendar, and The Villages Amateur Radio Club (TVARC) invites all hams and curious guests to join in the fun!
Whether you’re licensed, learning, or just interested, you’re welcome to come see ham radio in action — and even get on the air yourself!
What Is Field Day?
Field Day is many things rolled into one:- A test of emergency communications readiness
- A public outreach opportunity
- A way to sharpen technical skills
- A social event that brings hams together across North America
While it may feel like a contest, Field Day is low-pressure and welcoming. It’s about learning, sharing, and having fun — not chasing trophies. Over 30,000 hams across the U.S. and Canada participate each year. Will you?
Why You Should Join Us
Field Day is a chance to:
- Develop your on-air and technical skills
- Support emergency preparedness and community service
- Acquaint the public with the power and purpose of amateur radio
- Enjoy fellowship and operate in a supportive environment
Help Make It Happen — Volunteers Needed!
We’re actively seeking volunteers to help with important Field Day roles:
- Pre-Event Planning
- Media promotion and public awareness
- Reserving space with The Villages Recreation Center
- Coordinating with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for trailer access
- Technical & Station Setup
- Identifying and preparing radios, antennas, and cabling
- Recruiting operators and ambassadors
- Planning for QSO logging and ARRL submission
- Strategizing to maximize points through contacts and bonus activities
- Field Day-General - 2026-06-26 11:00:00 (Openings: 43) Register Now
- Field Day-Set up - 2026-06-26 11:00:00 (Openings: 15) Register Now
- Field Day-GOTA - Sat 2pm-6pm - 2026-06-27 14:00:00 (Openings: 4) Register Now
- Field Day-FT8 - Sat 2pm-6pm - 2026-06-27 14:00:00 (Openings: 4) Register Now
- Field Day-CW - Sat 2pm-6pm - 2026-06-27 14:00:00 (Openings: 4) Register Now
- Field Day-Take Down - 2026-06-28 14:00:00 (Openings: 15) Register Now
Be Part of the Team
Field Day runs on volunteers — and it’s more fun when you’re involved! Whether you’re a seasoned operator, new ham, or someone who just wants to support the community, we would love your help. You’ll gain experience, meet fellow radio enthusiasts, and contribute to a meaningful, exciting event.
Ready to Get Involved?
Sign up or reach out to the club or speak with Field Day coordinators Doug, AD4MO; Paul, KM4PIH or Ray ND8L. No matter your experience level, you can make a difference.
Like to be a part of the Field Day 2026?
Report on Field Day 2025
The Villages, FL – June 30, 2025 — Licensed amateur radio operators from The Villages Amateur Radio Club (TVARC) took part in the 2025 ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Field Day on Saturday and Sunday, June 28–29, joining thousands of amateur radio clubs across the United States in one of the nation’s largest emergency communications exercises.
As part of the event, TVARC members set up operations “off the grid” to demonstrate how amateur radio can provide reliable communication during disasters or other emergencies—without relying on commercial power, the internet, or cellular networks. The club erected antennas in the Eisenhower Recreation Center parking lot and operated three radio stations from inside the Sumter County Emergency Services communications trailer, which was generously made available for their use.
Operating under the club’s call sign, K4VRC, all equipment ran on emergency power supplied by the trailer’s generator. Starting at 2:00 PM Saturday, club members engaged in a 24-hour radio operation, making approximately 600 contacts with other amateur stations across North America. Each contact included an exchange of call signs, geographic locations, and operating classifications.
TVARC’s participation highlights the ongoing commitment of amateur radio operators to serve their communities when traditional communications may fail. Field Day is not only a technical challenge but also an opportunity to promote public awareness of amateur radio as a vital emergency resource.
Report on Field Day 2024
Forty TVARC members participated in the 2024 edition of ARRL Field Day, June 21-23. Set up began Friday afternoon and was completed by Saturday early afternoon. Two stations were in operation during the contest portion of Field Day – one running FT8 and the other running either CW or SSB, depending on the operator’s preference. Once again, we were fortunate to have the loan of the Sumter County Emergency Services trailer for the event.
During the contest we made 200 CW QSOs, 546 SSB QSOs and 162 FT8 QSOs. Six members and guests made their first ever contacts at the FT8 station under the watchful eye of WB8PKK, and five YL members made their first ever SSB contacts with K2DM doing the mentoring. Our ambassador team chatted up amateur radio to a number of visitors, some of whom made their way into trailer to observe the stations in action.
Midday Sunday we started taking everything down as threatening weather was forecast.
As demonstrated by the most recent hurricane, the ability to practice not only setting up a stand-alone station, but also to reach new potential amateur radio enthusiasts, or new ham radio operators to unfamiliar modes and capabilities is why this is such an important activity. According to George Briggs (K2DM), club president, "We all started somewhere, and this is a great opportunity to get your feet wet."