Looking for a spectacular dive into retro computing? VCF West 2025 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, on August 1–2 is the ultimate playground for computer geeks, families, collectors, IT pros, and curious onlookers. From iconic hardware exhibits to visionary speakers—and tickets already live—this festival has something for everyone.
1. What is VCF West?
The Vintage Computer Festival (VCF) is a traveling celebration of historical computers dating back to its founding by Sellam Ismail in 1997. VCF West is the west coast flagship event run by the Vintage Computer Federation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to preserving computing heritage through restoration, exhibits, talks, and hands‑on demos.
VCF West is a chunkier iteration focused on bringing enthusiasts together to revive memories and technologies often forgotten by mainstream venues. Expect a mix of nostalgia, education, and cutting‑edge retro innovations.
2. History & Significance
VCF West traces back to the early 2000s, frequently spotlighting Silicon Valley’s technological roots . Each year it highlights a central theme or anniversary—this time, VCF West 2025 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Amiga, in partnership with the Sacramento Amiga Computer Club and AmiWest (vcfed.org). This milestone connects the event’s rich legacy with its forward‑looking exhibits.
3. Location & Schedule
When:
- Friday, August 1, 2025: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (PT)
- Saturday, August 2, 2025: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (PT)
Where:
Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA—a fitting venue that pairs technical sophistication with historical ambiance.
Note: No Sunday session this year—just two packed days of retro exploration.
4. Tickets & Access
Tickets are officially on sale as of June 22, 2025 (Buy Tickets). You can purchase:
- Single‑day and two‑day passes online via the CHM system (link available on site), or
- Pick up tickets at the museum front desk on show days (Tickets).
Discounts are available for VCF Federation members—look for the emailed instructions.
Ticket perks include full access to the festival grounds plus all CHM exhibits, demos, the Bistro Café, and Museum Store (connect.computerhistory.org).
5. Exhibits Galore
This year’s VCF West 2025 lineup at CHM features a dazzling array of exhibits:
- The Aero Aesthetic: Windows’ Nature Era – Experience nostalgic interfaces from Windows 98 to Vista, complete with retro gameplay.
- Silicon Graphics Presenter – A rare LCD projector-equipped SGI setup.
- Retro Ricing – Custom, over-the-top modded machines that blend absurdity and brilliance.
- Elfin Forest – PDP‑11 systems elegantly restored in non‑DEC enclosures.
- Windows Across the Ages – Side‑by‑side demos from Windows 3.1 through 8.1.
- And many more, including Commodore 128 retrospectives, TRS-80 replicas, luggables, Lisp machines, and evolving expansions for vintage Macs (Exhibits).
From hands-on experiences to deep historical reflections—not to mention Amiga celebration exhibits—you’ll journey through decades of computing.
6. Speaker Lineup & Talks
VCF West 2025 brings a stellar slate of presenters blending preservationists, hackers, and original makers:
- Lee Felsenstein – Homebrew Computer Club at 50
- Dan Sanderson – MEGA65 (Commodore 65 recreation)
- Ben Zotto – MiniFloppy Revolution & Sphere 6800 disk controllers
- Christopher Brock – Modern CPUs for 1980s OSes
- Sean Harrington – Aquarius
- Sean Haas – LGP‑30 emulation
- Guy Fedorko – Portable Whirlwind Emulator
- Dale Luck – Amiga Corp @ CES 1984
- Plus 20+ others covering Amiga hardware/software evolution, Amiga 3rd-party dev, OS/2 Warpstock, 6502/llvm development, Sun 3/60, laserium shows, and Macintosh hacking.
This lineup blends technical depth, nostalgia, and visionary restoration—with talks scheduled across Friday and Saturday.
7. Why Attend?
- Retro & future in harmony: From core memory synths to FPGA‑based revivals like MEGA65 and Sphere 6800.
- Family‑friendly fun: Hands-on exhibits, playable demos, and interactive stations.
- Networking: Swap knowledge with collectors, students, IT pros, and industry legends like Felsenstein.
- Market opportunity: Consign vintage gear, check out vendors, or join community swap events.
- Education & discovery: Learn about hardware restoration, porting modern OSes to old platforms, and new possibilities like SymbOS.
8. Planning Your Visit
- Arrive early—especially on Friday when speakers and exhibits debut.
- Buy tickets online or at CHM; member discounts apply.
- Parking & lodging: Museum-provided info; Mountain View offers plenty of nearby hotels.
- Explore the CHM itself—your festival ticket doubles as museum admission.
- Bring your kids: Many hands-on demos are kid-friendly.
- Don’t miss the Friday Night Social—a great chance to mingle over drinks and pizza.
- Stay tuned online for finalized schedule and exhibit locations.
9. The VCF West 2025 Legacy
This year’s theme amplifies the celebration of Amiga’s 40th, plus pushes the envelope with custom builds, emulator-driven revivals, and interactive multimedia. Whether you’re a veteran collector, nostalgic baby boomer, curious kid, or modern maker, VCF West 2025 invites you to not just observe history—but play in it.
