Preparations began before the festival started. Howard Mitchell KD9WSV prepared volunteer ID badges, parking passes, vests, and other materials needed during their service. The club reports that when one final position remained to be filled, Eliot Libner volunteered N9EPA. Schaumburg officials asked SARC to provide support during all three days of the event.
The primary task of the amateur radio operators was to maintain an organized communications network. Operators could relay information from their assigned positions, report conditions, pass along requests, and remain in contact with the Net Control station. The club emphasizes that this was a support function – the amateur radio operators did not replace the police, fire, medical services, or municipal staff.
Septemberfest is Schaumburg’s flagship event. This year’s 55th edition, included concerts, an arts and crafts exhibition, Taste of Schaumburg, a drone show, and a Labor Day parade. The organizer says the event has historically attracted more than 100,000 attendees.
Participation in Septemberfest continues SARC’s previous public-service activities. The club reports that in 2024, 13 volunteers worked more than 93 hours at the event, while in 2025, 26 people completed more than 80 hours of service. These figures come from previous editions, however – SARC has not yet released a comparable total for the number of hours worked in 2026, so I am not attributing these figures to this year’s operation.