For 22 years, Radio Day by the Bay has brought music, history, and community together in Alameda. This coming Saturday, July 18, the California Historical Radio Society (CHRS) will once again open the doors of Radio Central for a free day-long celebration [1] of broadcasting, live entertainment, and the people who continue to keep radio alive.
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Running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Radio Day offers something for everyone. Visitors can enjoy live performances from Don Neely’s Rhythm Aces, Top Shelf Classics, Liris Robles, and the School of Rock Show Band, each bringing a different style and energy to the stage. Fans of classic broadcasting can also experience a live performance from The Thin Man episode, “The Goofy Groom,” recreating the excitement of old-time radio drama for a modern audience. Who is the “The Goofy Groom?” None other than Alameda PostCast [3] host Scott Piehler. Throughout the day, guests can meet Bay Area DJs and radio personalities, browse vintage radios for sale and for auction, tour the CHRS museum, watch ham radio demonstrations, and celebrate the newest inductees into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.
[4]Last year’s event [5] drew more than a thousand attendees, and organizers expect another strong turnout this summer. The atmosphere is part of what keeps people coming back. During past celebrations, visitors filled the event tent, clapping along to performances and gathering around the stage as musicians played throughout the day. Moments like these show how the event has grown into a gathering place for longtime radio fans, local musicians, families, and first-time visitors alike.
In addition to the performances, Radio Day offers a chance to experience broadcasting up close. Guests can explore Radio Central through free museum tours, see historic equipment that helped shape the industry, and meet the volunteers and broadcasters who continue to preserve that history. Thanks to support from the City of Alameda, admission remains free, making the event accessible to anyone interested in music, technology, local history, or simply spending a summer day with the community.
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[7]“Radio Day celebrates more than a century of creativity and innovation,” said Rachel Lee, Executive Director of CHRS. “It’s a rare opportunity to bring our community together, including radio fans, professionals, producers, and creators, to celebrate the preservation and future of broadcasting.”
That sense of community is what has made Radio Day a Bay Area tradition for more than two decades. More than a celebration of broadcasting history, the event highlights radio’s continuing role in connecting people through music, storytelling, and shared experiences. As technology evolves, Radio Day serves as a reminder that the strongest signal radio has ever carried has always been its ability to build community.
Malena McCloud is a Marketing Assistant for the California Historical Radio Society.