The New England RetroFest, held October 24 at the Faraday Function Center in Concord, New Hampshire, drew an estimated 200 or more visitors, with the floor busy through much of the morning. Exhibitors lined the room’s perimeter and sellers occupied the center, attracting people from across New England. Paul Lefebvre brought a carload of Atari equipment and set up an 800XL running games from cartridges and an SDrive Max, alongside a 1040ST demonstrating floppy-disk titles such as Time Bandit and Bubble Bobble. Visitors also took home free duplicate magazines, Atari 2600 cartridges, and ST software. Another exhibitor had an 800XL connected to a FujiNet.
The event’s main appeal was the chance for enthusiasts to share their knowledge, restoration projects, and memories. Conversations covered the newly announced THE 800XL, ST Book and STacy repairs, the crustyBASIC compiler, and plans for the Maine Vintage Computer Society. Lefebvre also met readers and spoke with people from several New England states. Though he arrived with no plans to buy or sell, he sold his 1040ST to someone who would use it rather than leave it in storage. The show ended around 2 p.m.; he describes it as an energizing gathering of people united by a love of unusual, older computers and hopes it will return next year. Other highlights included an Amiga 1000, several Timex Sinclair models, and an Apple IIGS.
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