Category: Events

SWAP MEET IS ON! JUNE 7 IN WALL, NJ

Posted on by Jeffrey Brace Category: Events, Fundraiser, Swap Meet

The VCF SWAP Meet is On! in Wall, NJ June 7, 2025.

So the negotiations with the weather gods have been successful!
The latest weather forecast shows a 57% chance of rain around 8AM and thunderstorms 5PM or later.

So with this, I’m going ahead with the swap meet as planned.
Everyone is encouraged to use their best judgment as to their safety in coming to the event.

My highest recommendation is to bring a tent that can be anchored with sandbags. Generally a good idea regardless of rain.

Also bring waterproof clothing (i.e. raincoats, etc.)

If any vendor should feel uncomfortable and needs to cancel, we will refund you, but once you show up, there is no refund.

Vendor setup is 7AM
General Admission is 8AM

More info here: https://vcfed.org/vcf-swap-meet/

VCF East 2026 mark your calendars!

Posted on by Jeffrey Brace Category: east, Events, Vintage Computer Festival

🎉Dawn of the PC: VCF East 2026

đź“… April 17-19, 2026
đź“Ť Wall, New Jersey | InfoAge Science and History Museums

We’re thrilled to announce the theme for next year’s Vintage Computer Festival East 2026!

Dawn of the PC

In 2026, we’ll explore the pivotal era when computing took a bold step out of labs and into homes, classrooms, and small businesses. This theme celebrates the early days of personal computing—the period when powerful machines became accessible, affordable, and, most importantly, personal.

đź’ˇ What does “Dawn of the PC” mean?

It’s the story of how we got from the blinking lights of hobbyist kits to the sleek machines that reshaped everyday life. We’ll shine a spotlight on the computers, people, ideas, and companies that ignited a digital revolution .

From the Altair 8800, Apple I, and Commodore PET to the TRS-80, IBM PC, and Macintosh, this theme gives us room to showcase the innovation and competition that defined the era.

🖥️ Planning an exhibit? Here’s how to tie in:

We invite exhibitors, presenters, and tinkerers to interpret the theme broadly. Some ideas to spark your creativity:

  • Early Personal Computers: Show off systems like the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Osborne 1, or Amiga.
  • Clones and Compatibles: Explore the world of IBM PC clones and the DOS era.
  • Software Milestones: VisiCalc, dBASE, GEOS, early word processors, games, and operating systems.
  • User Experience: Recreate how people first encountered computers at home, in school, or at work.
  • Cultural Impact: Ads, packaging, magazines, and educational content from the PC’s formative years.
  • Builds and Restorations: Custom-built 70s/80s computers or working reproductions of classic systems.

Whether your passion is hardware, software, design, or storytelling—there’s a place for your vision under this theme.

🎤 Want to Present or Host a Workshop?

We’re looking for talks and sessions that explore:

  • The transition from minicomputers to personal computing
  • The business and marketing of early PCs
  • Key people and forgotten pioneers
  • Preservation challenges and techniques
  • Fun retrospectives on favorite platforms or programs

Join us as we celebrate the origins of the digital age and the brilliant machines that brought computing power into the hands of individuals.

🧠 Because before we were online… we were booting from floppy disks.

We have already begun planning to improve the show based on feedback from the surveys and conversations with different participants.

Signups for exhibits, vendors, talks and volunteers will be available starting in mid-August.

See you there!

Jeff Brace

VCF East Showrunner

VCF Swap Meet June 7, 2025 in Wall, NJ

Posted on by Jeffrey Brace Category: Events, Fundraiser, Swap Meet

The VCF/MARCH Swap Meet is back!

CLICK HERE FOR VENDOR Registration

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Vendor Setup at 7AM

GENERAL ADMISSION from 8AM until 2PM

$5 GENERAL ADMISSION per person! (12 and younger free)
FOOD ON SITE (Boardwalk Bites Lunch truck)
LOCATION (Outdoors) – Rain or shine! No Rain Date!
Talk-In: 147.045Mhz, PL is 67
VENDOR COST is per space. First space is $20. Each additional space is $10. A space is considered a 18 feet by 9 feet (the general size of a parking space).
* Reservation doesn’t guarantee sales.
* Tables for rent. Vendors can optionally rent tables, but availability isn’t guaranteed!
* In case of inclement weather, money paid will be refunded.
* All items that you bring must be taken with you. No items are to be left behind.
* Port-a-Potties on site.
* No electricity available.
Next Swap Meet will be October 18, 2025.
AFTER THE SWAP MEET, COME VISIT OUR VCF MUSEUM @ INFOAGE! (Museum admission is extra and not included with swap meet admission)

We are open from 12PM to 5PM: https://vcfed.org/vcf-museum

The Vintage Computer Federation Museum is located near the swap meet and is part of InfoAge Science and History museums.

InfoAge and VCF Museums are open every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday from 12PM to 5PM

InfoAge museums: infoage.org.

VCF East 2025 on The Verge!

Posted on by Jeffrey Brace Category: east, Events, Vintage Computer Festival

VCF East was a great success with great speakers, exhibitors, classes, consignment and attendees!

Take a look at the coverage of the show on The Verge:

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this show happen. I couldn’t have done it without you!

Also check out other videos from VCF East: https://vcfed.org/vcf-east-2025-videos/

Jeff Brace

VCF East Showrunner

Brian Kernighan coming to VCF East 2025

Posted on by Jeffrey Brace Category: east, Events, Vintage Computer Festival

Do you know this man? He co-wrote the first book on C programming. He was involved with early development of UNIX including authoring UNIX program ditroff, co-authoring: AWK, AMPL. He will be talking about his 2019 book: UNIX: A History and a Memoir.

Tickets to VCF East: https://events.humanitix.com/vintage-computer-festival-east-2025

Schedule: https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-east/vcf-east-schedule/

General info: https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-east/

VCF West 2025 – Save the Date!

Posted on by Jeffrey Brace Category: Events, Vintage Computer Festival, West

While VCF East is underway, we’d like to formally announce that VCF West is back for 2025 and we’re planning a bigger, better, and more unique show than we ever have before!

 For starters, we’re partnering with the Sacramento Amiga Computer Club and AmiWest to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Amiga! Please see their announcement here: Amiga 30th Silicon Valley organizers There will be other special guests as well.

 All our other favorites will be back including tons of speakers, consignment, exhibits galore and our Friday Night Social.

In addition to the guests mentioned above we will also be offering a limited number of vendor tables for certain specific types of sales at the event.

 Due to the expanded event, exhibit space will be limited so we are going to be selective and some of the larger exhibits may be asked to scale back to make room for others.

There is still room for talks so if you’re interested or know someone who is, please let us know!

We are also now offering sponsorships for the Vintage Computer Federation. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with the shows and to get access to other sponsorship perks!

 The Venue hasn’t changed. We’re still at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California on the first weekend in August. This year the dates are Friday August 1st and Saturday August 2nd.

 Lastly, we need YOUR help, and would like to get some information to help make VCF West the best it can be. So if you have the time, please help us out and complete this quick, 5 minute survey, especially the hotel questions, so we can size and plan the event to maximize the retro goodness: https://forms.gle/R1kSCsVqEyZfgQ4Q8

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!