Field Day is an annual activity held on the fourth weekend in June each year. It's sponsored by the American Radio Relay League(ARRL). Depending on viewpoint, it's a disaster preparedness exercise disguised as a contest, or a contest disguised as a disaster preparedness exercise.
Each year at this time, amateurs around the country pack up radios, antennas, batteries, generators, tents, stoves, and more and head out into the "wilderness". The point is to go to a place where there normally is no radio equipment and set up a communications facility without relying on commercial power.
The level of participation varies from person to person, and from club to club. It ranges from a single radio and a dipole antenna in the back of the station wagon, to large setups like the one by the Nashua Area Radio Club, which runs one of the largest in the nation.
In the 24 hours from 2 PM June 23rd to 2PM on Saturday, an empty wooded orchard will see three 70 foot towers and a 40 foot tower erected. Tents, trailers, and RV's brought in and set up. Power lines will be run from the generator to each of the locations where a transmitter will operate. Kitchen facilities are made ready to feed the 100 plus people needed to make the whole thing happen. The contest portion runs from 2PM on Saturday for another 24 hours. From 2PM on Sunday until dark, everything is taken down and stored for next year.
Field Day is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend. It's a great way to learn more about the hobby of amateur radio and the services it provides in times of emergency.
Hope to see you there!