Events Diary
Anyone planning to travel to the events listed below is strongly advised to check that it is to take place as shown – past events are known to have been changed/cancelled, and the organisers do not always let us know. This information is provided in good faith and to help our members. VMARS cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Rallies and events listed here are those considered to be of particular interest to VMARS members. Please contact webeditor@vmars.org.uk to add an event that you think suitable for this diary or to advise corrections or changes.
| Date | Event | Location | Contact/Link | Notes |
| 2026 | VMARS 27th anniversary year |  | 27 years since the formation of VMARS in May 1999 at Station X, Bletchley Park | Over 600 members and growing. Click here to join VMARS |
| Saturday 31st January 2026 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall Frances Road, Baginton, Coventry CV8 3AB | Lunch included to members who pre-order Please check the News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public.VMARS members & their guests |
| Sunday 15th March 2026 | Ripon and District Amateur Radio (RADARS) Society Rally | Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Lane, Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RL | https://riponradioclub.co.uk/rally/ | The doors open for traders at 7.30am and to the public at 10am. Admission costs £5. Free parking, refreshments and bacon butties available. |
| Sunday 12th April 2026 | NARSA’s Blackpool Rally | Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA | https://narsa.org.uk | |
| Saturday 25th April 2026 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall Frances Road, Baginton, Coventry CV8 3AB | Lunch included to members who pre-order Please check the News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public.VMARS members & their guests |
| Sunday 22nd March 2026 (Note new venue) | Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally (DARC) | Eastry Village Hall, High Street, Eastry, Kent CT13 0QB | https://darc.online/rally | 10am to 2pm. Entrance fee still £3. Tea, coffee and bacon rolls available on site. |
| Sunday 17th May 2026 | Retrotech | Sports Connexion Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL | https://www.retrotechuk.com/ | 10:30am – 4:00pm. Vendors of all types of vintage radio and electronic equipment |
| Sunday 21st June 2026 | ESWR – East Suffolk Wireless Revival | Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, IPSWICH, IP10 0PW | http://www.eswr.org.uk | From 9.30am – Admission £3. There will be trade stands, a car boot sale, a bring and buy, special interest groups, GB4SWR HF station and an RSGB bookstall. Catering is available on site. |
| Saturday – Sunday 20st – 21nd June 2026 | Wartime in the Vale | Ashdown Farm Badsey Nr. Evesham WR11 7EN | https://ashdowncamp.com/ | 10.00am- 5pm, WWII military vehicle and re-enactment/Living History event. Mix of WWII & Post war military vehicles & vintage civilian displays. Trade stalls, Arena displays, Tanks in action, Battle. |
| Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July 2026 | Capel Military Show | Aldhurst Farm Temple Lane Capel Surrey | https://www.capelmilitaryshow.com | Displays and sales stands |
| Sunday 5th July 2026 | Newbury Radio Rally | Newbury Showground – J13 off M4 RG18-9QZ | www.nadars.org.uk/rally.asp | Open to sellers at 8am and visitors at 9am. Lots of free parking. Entry is £4* visitor, £15* sellers pitch.(*2026) On-site catering. Disabled facilities. |
| Sunday 12th July 2026 | McMichael Radio Rally | TBC | https://mcmichaelrally.org.uk | Amateur radio rally & boot sale |
| Saturday 25th July 2026 | Wiltshire Radio Rally | Kington Langley Village Hall, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. Just off Junction 17 of the M4. | https://chippenhamradio.club/rally/ | Amateur radio rally & boot sale BUYERS are welcome from 9am – 1pm. Entrance £3 per person, Under 16s free. |
| Sunday 9th August 2026 | Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest | Cobham Sports and Social Club, Near Wimborne. SatNav BH21 3DA | https://www.frars.co.uk/hamfest/ | Amateur radio rally & boot sale |
| Sunday 30th August 2026 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall Frances Road, Baginton, Coventry CV8 3AB | Lunch included to members who pre-order Please check the News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public.VMARS members & their guests |
| Saturday 5th September 2026 | VMARS 27th Annual General Meeting | TBC | 27 years since the formation of VMARS in May 1999 at Station X, Bletchley Park | VMARS Members & families |
| Saturday 19th September 2026 | Stow Maries: Words without Wires – the story of Military Communications | Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Hackmans Lane Purleigh, Chelmsford, CM3 6RN | https://www.stowmaries.org.uk/event/stow-maries-words-without-wires-the-story-of-military-communications-1833443210999 | Celebrating military communications of the last 100 years |
| Friday 25th, Saturday 26th September 2026 | The National Hamfest | Newark Showground 10:00 – 16:00 | http://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk | VMARS stands at this event. Static display and VMARS information stand in the hall and possibly a working vintage station in the grounds |
| Friday 9th, Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th October 2026 | RSGB convention | Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes | https://rsgb.org/ | |
| Saturday 7th November 2026 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall Frances Road, Baginton, Coventry CV8 3AB | Lunch included to members who pre-order Please check the News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public.VMARS members & their guests |