This festival is the largest Amateur Radio, or HAM, festival in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United states. Attendance for the 2015 festival jumped to a 10% increase in comparison to the 2014 festival. Vendor David Larsen commented that the festival is like a large flea market for those interested in Amateur Radio and vintage computers. Bob Bruniga, WB4APR, the inventor of the Automatic Pocket Reporting System (APRS) and Kay Craigie, N3KN, President of the Amateur Radio Relay League held forums throughout the event for visitors to participate in.

Directors of FAIRS David and Gaynell Larsen manned a booth to display the several interests and businesses they own including Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service (FAIRS), Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum, and Chantilly Farm. During te course of the festival David met several individuals who used the book series he co-authored. Also a student David taught at Virginia Tech in the mid-80’s dropped by to catch up. David mentioned that his favorite part of the festival is networking with HAM radio friends and those interested in retro-computers. Relationships built at events such as Frostfest last a life time and can even lead to individuals using their strengths to help out another individual. Win Heagy, a fellow retro-computer enthusiast to David, borrowed a Mits-Altair 8800 to restore, the computer is now fully restored and on display at the Bgbook Microcomputer Museum in Floyd, Virginia.

Overall Davd and Gaynell enjoyed their experience at the 2015 Frostfest in Richmond, Virginia and are already looking forward to next year’s festival. If you would like to gain more information regarding Frost Fest or have interest in attending the event next year visit Frostfest’s Facebook page to state up-to-date.

https://www.facebook.com/RichmondFrostfest

Frost Fest 2015