W8USR - Special Events

Roanoke Festival in the Park Special Event

The Special Event

The Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club (RVARC), operating under the club call sign W4CA, hosted this on-air special event live from the Roanoke Festival in the Park. Club leadership strongly felt that the annual festival served as the organization's absolute best opportunity to present amateur radio directly to the general public during that era. The activation was intentionally organized to demonstrate high-frequency (HF) and VHF communications to the passing crowds, generate local curiosity, and proudly showcase the emergency preparedness capabilities of amateur radio operators.

The field station utilized a high-performance Yaesu FT-990 transceiver, racking up hundreds of public contacts across multiple bands. At the time of this activation, the Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club was led by Club President Ron Ramsey (AB4A), with technical and wireless engineering frequently managed on the ground by members like Phil Roark (K4WFO).

About the Roanoke Festival in the Park

The Roanoke Festival in the Park stands as one of the oldest and most beloved community music and arts traditions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It completely transforms Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke into a vibrant, multi-day family celebration. Organizers proudly note that it is recognized as the "second oldest music festival in the United States, second only to the Philadelphia Folk Festival."

The historic gathering originally kicked off back in 1968. It did not start as a structured, gated event, but rather organically with sidewalk musicians playing their songs throughout the city streets. In the following year, 1969, the festival officially established its permanent home at Elmwood Park, anchoring the city's Memorial Day Weekend celebrations ever since.

The modern festival features massive national headliners alongside top-tier regional acts on the Elmwood Park Amphitheater stage, drawing historic icons like Foreigner's Lou Gramm and classic rock bands like Foghat. A major drawing card remains the sprawling outdoor market, where dozens of heritage craft vendors, local artisans, and community organizations line the walkways. The festivities traditionally spill well past the park boundary onto Franklin Road and Jefferson Street. The grounds also host a dedicated kids' area with interactive inflatables and unique evening activities like late-night "Silent Discos" near the playground, while regional food trucks serve up everything from classic festival fare to diverse Blue Ridge specialties.

Station Log: Contact History

Date / Year	Special Event Call	My Callsign Used	Time (UTC)	Frequency	Band	Mode	RST	Operator's Name
May 27, 2006	W4CA	W8USR	19:13 UTC	7.260 MHz	40 Meters	SSB	59	John