# 2025 ARRL Amateur Radio Field Day
The Amateur Radio Field Day is a nationwide 24-hour event. Ham radio operators set up temporary stations in public places and show off their emergency communication skills.
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The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) organizes this annual competition. It’s a big showcase for how amateur radio steps up when disasters knock out regular communication systems.
Participants score points by contacting other stations across the country. It’s also a chance to teach the public about this surprisingly vital resource for emergencies.
Emergency Communication When All Else Fails
When disaster hits, regular communication systems can just crumble. Landlines can go silent. Cell towers sometimes just quit. Internet? Gone. But amateur radio keeps working.
We’ve seen this in real life. During the Pacific Palisades and Altadena fires, Hurricane Milton, and Tropical Storm Helene, ham radio operators kept the lines open while everything else failed.
Local Preparedness in Action
The Marin Amateur Radio Society (MARS) plans to show off these emergency skills at Stafford Lake Park during the 2025 Field Day. Their temporary station will run nonstop for 24 hours, reaching out to hundreds of other stations around the country.
“Ham radio works totally independently from the internet and landline phones, and you can set up a station just about anywhere in minutes,” says Steve Toquinto of MARS. He’s not wrong—it’s pretty impressive.
What to Expect at Field Day
If you visit Stafford Lake Park during Field Day, you’ll see a full emergency communication center in action. The setup shows just how fast these systems can be ready when they’re really needed.
Hands-On Demonstrations
Experienced operators will be on hand to explain things like:
It’s a rare chance to see these critical communication systems doing their thing when everything else is down.
Event Details
Field Day runs for a full 24 hours, so operators can show they’re ready any time of day or night.
When and Where
Date: June 28-29, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM Saturday to 11:00 AM Sunday
Location: Picnic Area 1, Stafford Lake Park
Address: 3549 Novato Blvd, Novato, CA
Getting There
If you’ve got a ham radio, try the event on the talk-in frequency: 147.585 MHz simplex. The park’s easy to reach from Highway 101—just head down Novato Boulevard.
The event’s free and open to everyone. No need to RSVP—just drop by during the operating hours and see this essential emergency service in action.
About the Organizers
The Marin Amateur Radio Society helps Marin County get ready for emergencies. Members train often so they can jump in with backup communication when disasters strike.
This Field Day event comes together thanks to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). They’re the national group for amateur radio. If you want more details, reach out to Steve Toquinto at [email protected].
When you drop by, you’ll see firsthand how these volunteers keep our community connected—especially when the usual systems go down. In earthquake and fire-prone California, that’s not just helpful, it’s pretty crucial.
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