Amateur radio station with two groups of people using radios and computers, and a sign reading 'Amateur Radio FD 26, A National Resource'

Summer Field Day is a free, public, annual event occurring nation-wide during the 4th Saturday/Sunday in June when over 40,000 amateur radio operators in the US get on-the-air for 24 hours. Many radio clubs such as the ones listed below operate at public locations and are eager to receive visitors and have you join them. Many operate GOTA (Get-On-The-Air) radio stations aimed at helping the public operate an amateur radio (with no experience or license) while seeing how they are used locally and worldwide using less power than a lightbulb! Licensed operators with lower level privilages can often try all ham radio bands, frequencies and modes under the club’s callsign. Visit a Field Day site, ask questions, hear what it’s all about, make new friends, and talk with the world!

Area clubs are hosting 2026 Field Day events on during the weekend of June 26, 2026 which are open to the public. They would love to have you visit! If you don’t see your club listed or you have an update to the information below, please share using our contact page.

* indicates 2025 event data shown (2026 updates will be added once available)

FIELD DAY GROUP (link)

LOCATION

DETAILS

Crystal Lake Residence

3208 Bay Road, Crystal Lake, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sun to 1pm Sun CONTACT: WA9ORC@gmail.com NOTES: Free food party, dinner on saturday at 6pm, satellite statio too, camping welcome.

Kankakee River State Park

Davis Creek Campground, Grove #1, Bourbonnais, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sun to 1pm Sun CONTACT: W9BBQ@sbcglobal.net NOTES: 15th year hosting the clubs annual Field Day event at this location.

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sun to 1pm Sun LICENSE TESTING: Saturday CONTACT: WA9ORC@gmail.com NOTES: Event held in a large, air-conditioned cabin. Bring snacks or dessert to share. The club provides a Saturday picnic meal with beverages!

Camp Reiniberg

1801 Quentin Road, Palatine, IL

Commons Park

2419 Keystone Ave, North Riverside, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun PARKING: At Desplaines Ave & Village Commons Dr; take path (follow banners) TALK-IN: 145.555 simplex

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: 1pm - 6pm Sat CONTACT: n9hrt@sbcglobal.net NOTES: Adjacent to Elmhurst University

Wilder Park

175 S. Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL

Mooseheart

301 N. International Dr, Mooseheart, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun (enter off Rt 31 - visit guard station) OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: 1-5pm Sat, 9am-1pm Sun SET-UP: 1pm Fri TALK-IN: 147.210 (pl 103.5) CONTACT: Field-day@frrl.org

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Prairie Grove Picnic Area, County Rd 5000 E, Morris IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat till early evening. Sunday till 1pm (not present when park closes overnight) OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: During the hours noted above CONTACT: giljones88@gmail.com

Southbridge Church

15500 S. 73rd Ave, Orland Park, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: All weekend CONTACT: jimriley13@yahoo.com

OPERATIONS: Noon - 5pm Sat CONTACT: Secretary@kr9rk.com NOTES: $8 park entry fee. Bring your radio equipment, chairs, beverages. Foxhunt, picnic food, refreshments provided

Richard Bong State Rec Area

26313 Burlington Rd, Kansasville, WI

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun CONTACT: kaatzg@comcast.net OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: During daylight hours NOTES: Join the potluck dinner on Saturday!

Rush Creek Conservation Area

20501 McGuire Rd, Harvard, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun LOCATION: South side of Willow Rd between Bristol and Churchill Streets near the Edens Expressway. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: 1-6pm Sat, 9am-1pm Sun SET-UP: 10am Fri CONTACT: Communications@ns9rc.org

Clarkson Park

1950 New Willow Rd, Northfield, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: 1-4pm on Sat CONTACT: dannyzstory@yahoo.com NOTES: Multiple antennas with slopers off the water tower

St Peter Lutheran Church

202 E. Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL

OPERATIONS: 1pm Sat - 1pm Sun closed whe park is not in operation (overnight) VE TESTING: 10am Saturday CONTACT: Stewardsmi@gmail.com

Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve

7100 River Rd, Hodgkins, IL

Marengo Ridge Conservation Area

2411 N. Route 23, Marengo, IL

Elmhurst Fire Dept Training Center

910 North Addison, Elmhurst, IL

2025 Summer Field Day memories!

A man sitting outdoors at a desk with computer equipment, smiling while using a mouse and keyboard.

Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club

Two men sitting inside a large camping tent with a table of electronic equipment, including laptops, microphones, and other devices. The man in the foreground is smiling, wearing a red shirt and black shorts, with sunglasses on his head. The man in the background is older, with white hair and beard, wearing a striped shirt and glasses, holding a small device.
Three men gathered under a canopy with electronic equipment and monitors, having a discussion outdoors on a grassy area.
An outdoor setup with tables, chairs, and electronic equipment under a canopy, with a man sitting on a chair on the right side, and a parked van in the background on a grassy area with trees.
View of a tall, white industrial silo on the left, with trees and a clear blue sky with a few clouds, and a thin wire or cable running diagonally across the sky.
Inside a large outdoor event tent set up with electronic equipment on a table, including a monitor, radio, and other gear, with chairs and a small fan, overlooking a grassy park with trees and people in the background.
Four men standing outdoors in a park, smiling at the camera. Three of them are wearing name tags, and one is using a walker. In the background, people are sitting and walking near tents and cars, with trees and a blue sky overhead.
Green banner on chain-link fence advertising York Radio Club, promoting Field Day with the slogan 'Radio Connects' and an illustration of a radio connector cable.

York Radio Club

Two people wearing headphones working at a radio station control desk, with radios, laptops, papers, and a can of soda. In the background, others are filming or working, some wearing orange and gray t-shirts.
View of a rooftop with a rusted metal railing, a satellite dish, and an antenna structure, overlooking a parking lot with cars and buildings, under a blue sky with white clouds.
People working at a radio station with headphones, a laptop, notes, and equipment on the desk near a window.
A man in a gray shirt sitting at a cluttered table with radio equipment, a laptop, and notebooks, working at a radio station labeled '6 Meter VHF/UHF Station.'
Inside a temporary radio broadcast station set up inside a tent, with two computer monitors, laptops, microphones, fans, lights, notebooks, and electronic equipment on a wooden table.

Fox River Radio League

Man sitting inside a green tent at a desk with a laptop covered with various stickers, a pen, and electronic equipment.
Four men sitting outdoors at a barbecue grill with many grilled burger patties, under trees on a sunny day.
Five men sitting in lawn chairs outdoors under a tree, wearing matching maroon shirts, with cars and a picnic setup in the background.
Four law enforcement officers standing outdoors under a blue canopy, with a black vehicle and trees in the background. They are wearing black uniforms with badges and sunglasses.
A table set up outdoors under a canopy with a Fox River Radio League banner celebrating their centennial, featuring two people sitting behind it, various informational materials, and radio equipment, with a grassy field and trees in the background.
Two tall antennas set up outdoors behind a chain-link fence, with a white building and parked vehicles in the background, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.