Vintage Computer Festival

Although electronic computers date from the mid-20th century, computer history enthusiasts are already making the collecting of vintage computers into a hobby.  Perhaps the oldest and best-known gathering of these enthusiasts is the Vintage Computer Festival (VCF), founded on the West Coast of the U.S. in 1997.

The mission of the Vintage Computer Festival is "to promote the preservation of "obsolete" computers by offering people a chance to experience the technologies, people and stories that embody the remarkable tale of the computer revolution." VCF events include a hands-on exhibit hall, VIP keynotes, and technical classes.

Regional editions of the event began spreading in the 2000s. Regional locations in the U.S. now include New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta. Regional editions overseas include Bletchley Park (England) and Munich (Germany). The version in New Jersey ("VCF East") became the largest edition when the original VCF in California went on hiatus after 2007.

Through their events and through the Vintage Computer Festival Archives—a publicly accessible archive of computer hardware, software, literature and ephemera—VCF promotes interest in researching and documenting the history of the computer, as well as promoting the fun of playing with old computers.