OnAllBands is devoting part of our contest guide to some of the special event stations on the air this August. You’ll find a nice selection of special events to keep you busy every month at the ARRL website.
We love the low-key fun and educational component of making QSOs with stations that bring attention to local and regional history, important landmarks, and people who have shaped our world. Here are a few to mark on your calendar:
King Midget Micro-Car 80th Anniversary
The Athens County, Ohio, Amateur Radio Association is celebrating the smallest street-legal car ever made in America—the King Midget. More than 5,000 King Midgets were manufactured in Athens, Ohio, by the Midget Motors Corporation from 1946-70, with the first kit models costing $270 and the 1970 “commuter” model marked at a still minuscule $1,295. At one point, the car was marketed as “the 500-pound car at $500.”
Depending on model speed and engine size, the small but mighty King reached top speeds of 30 to 50 mph. It is estimated that about 20% of the cars produced have survived. Even today, local and state regulations generally permit them for use on city streets and roads, but it’s best to steer clear of the highway.
From Aug. 6-9, dozens of these cars will visit Athens for the 80th Anniversary King Midget Jamboree.
For those who are wondering, the road-legal Peel P50, a three-wheeled micro-car (legally classified as a three-wheeled motorcycle) produced on the Isle of Man from 1962-65 and then from 2010 to present in England, was listed in the 2010 “Guinness World Records” as the smallest production car ever made.
Now back to the King Midget and ham radio: You can reach special event station K8M Aug. 5-9, 0000Z-2359Z, on 7.245 and 14.245.
National Navajo Code Talkers Day
In celebration of National Navajo Code Talkers Day (August 14, 2026), contact Herb Goodluck, N7HG, Aug. 8-14, 0024Z-0004Z, on 14.265 and 7.265.
For many years, hams around the world have contacted special event stations to honor the bilingual Navajo speakers who played a vital communications role while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific theater during World War II. Translating English code words into their native language, the “code talkers” sent confidential messages from battle lines to air bases and other locations, saving countless lives yet going unnoticed for their bravery until much later after the war. President Ronald Reagan declared August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day in 1982.
International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
Taking place the third weekend in August, this annual 48-hour event is one of the most popular of all international amateur radio activities, attracting around 500 participants who operate from lighthouses in over 40 countries. The event runs this year from Aug. 15-16. View the list of registered lighthouses here, from the Punta Mogotes Lighthouse in Argentina to the Mumbles Lighthouse in Wales (below).
Read this OnAllBands article from Troy, AC8OW, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, about his club’s activation of the Marblehead Lighthouse, about two hours away from DX Engineering headquarters.
Steamboat Nannie Byers Disaster
The Clifty Amateur Radio Society (W9EFU) of Jefferson County, Indiana, will be operating special event station N9B in remembrance of the 15 lives lost after the collision of the steamboat “Nannie Byers” with the steamer “E.C. Hillman.” The collision occurred on February 24, 1866, at 2:30 a.m. on a windy night on the Ohio River near Madison, Indiana, causing the “Nannie Byers” to sink in four minutes.
Reach special event station N9B Aug. 15, 1400Z-2200Z on 28.328, 14.325, 7.250, and 20 and 10 meters FT8.
In addition to these special events, hone your skills before the year’s major blockbusters with these contests:
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YB Bekasi Merdeka Contest: Aug. 8, 1200Z to Aug. 9, 1159Z. This SSB-only, single-operator 80/40/10M contest commemorates the anniversary of Indonesian independence from Japan (Aug. 17, 1945). The event is sponsored by the Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization.
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Kentucky State Parks on the Air: Aug. 8, 1400Z to 2200Z. The Murray State University Amateur Radio Club (MSUARC) is sponsoring its annual Kentucky State Parks on the Air event. Activators will have an opportunity to operate from the Bluegrass State’s 50 parks and nine national sites, while chasers can make CW, SSB, and Digital QSOs with hams enjoying the diversity of the state’s outdoor areas.
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ARRL EME Contest: Aug. 8, 0000Z to Aug. 9, 2359Z. The object of this annual event is to work as many amateur stations as possible via the earth-moon-earth path on any authorized amateur frequency above 50 MHz. Aug. 8-9 and Sept. 5-6 are designated for 2.3 GHz and up. Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov. 28-29 are for 50 to 1296 MHz.
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MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest: Aug. 12, 0700Z to Aug. 14, 0700Z. MMMonVHF, in cooperation with the magazines DUBUS and Funk-Telegramm, invites you to take part in the 2026 edition of the “144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest.” Per the contest website, the Perseid meteor shower will be active until Aug. 24. Its maximum is estimated to occur on Aug. 13 between 0200 UTC and 0400 UTC.
Last year during the Perseid meteor shower, HamSCI hosted a Meteor Scatter QSO Party, an on-the-air experiment to study meteor scatter propagation on HF bands below 30 MHz. Open-source data gathered from the event is being used to further our understanding of 6- and 10-meter propagation, along with gaining new insights into meteoric behavior. Read the results of the event in this report from Gary Mikitin, AF8A.
In June of 2026, HamSCI held a Meteor Scatter Party during the daytime Arietids shower.
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Keymen’s Club of Japan Contest: Aug. 15, 1200Z to Aug. 16, 1200Z. Formed in 1976, the Keymen’s Club of Japan is devoted to promoting CW operation on the amateur bands. Find club history and contest rules at the KCJ website.
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SARTG WW RTTY Contest: Aug. 15, 0000Z to 0800Z and 1600Z to 2400Z; Aug. 16, 0800Z to 1600Z. This annual RTTY-only event is sponsored by the Scandinavian Amateur Radio Teleprinter Group.
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ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest: Aug. 15, 0900Z to Aug. 17, 0759Z. If you’re a fan of operating on the Super High Frequency (microwave) spectrum, this is your chance to shine. North American amateurs will attempt to contact as many stations in as many different locations as possible in North America on bands from 10 GHz (3-centimeter) through Light. Amateurs are encouraged to operate from more than one location during this event. Contesters may enter in either “10 GHz only” or “10 GHz and Up” categories. The second weekend of the contest will be Sept. 19-21.
For those interested in 10 GHz operation, you’ll find the Icom IC-905 VHF/UHF/SHF All Mode Base/Portable Transceiver at DXEngineering.com. The rig boasts operating capability up to 10 GHz with the optional CX-10G Transverter (sold separately).
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North American QSO Party, SSB: Aug. 15, 1800Z to Aug. 16, 0559Z. All amateur licensees are eligible to work as many North American stations as possible during the 12-hour contest period.
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ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY: Aug. 16, 1800Z to 2359Z. From the ARRL, the Rookie Roundups “encourage newly licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators—either on the air or in person.”
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ALARA Contest: Aug. 30, 0600Z to Aug. 31, 0559Z. The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association will be hosting the ALARA Contest, an SSB/CW event in which YLs may contact anyone while OMs may only contact YLs on all HF bands except 160M and WARC bands. Formed in 1975, ALARA boasts a membership of more than 200 operators, with many members sponsoring operators overseas. ALARA’s mission is to “encourage women’s interest and active participation in amateur radio.”
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The U.S. Islands QSO Party: Aug. 29, 1200Z to Aug. 30, 0300Z. The U.S. Islands QSO Party “promotes verifiable amateur radio contacts with stations located on islands in the United States and its Territories and Protectorates.” This 15-hour SSB/CW/Digital event offers two classes (QRP, five watts or less) or QRO (greater than five watts), and several categories: Island Fixed, Island Rover, and Non-Island.
The U.S. Islands Awards Program centers around activating and chasing U.S. river, lake, and shore islands. Thinking about activating an island? Here’s a state-by-state U.S. island directory.
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Also check out these state QSO parties:
- Maryland-DC: Aug. 8, 1400Z to Aug. 9, 0400Z
- Hawaii: Aug. 22, 1600Z to Aug. 24, 0200Z
- Ohio: Aug. 22, 1600Z to Aug. 23, 0400Z
- Kansas: Aug. 29, 1400Z to Aug. 30, 0200Z; Aug. 30, 1400Z to 2000Z
The post August 2026 Guide to Ham Radio Contests—Special Events Edition, from Micro-Cars to Lighthouses appeared first on OnAllBands.
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