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Retro Computing Community Events December 2025

The retro computing community has been experiencing a remarkable resurgence throughout December 2025, with a packed calendar of events bringing together enthusiasts, collectors, and hobbyists who share a passion for vintage technology. These gatherings represent more than just nostalgia—they're active communities dedicated to preserving computing history, maintaining legacy systems, and celebrating the machines that shaped the digital age. The events scheduled for December 2025 showcase the vibrant, diverse nature of this community and its commitment to keeping vintage computing alive and accessible. One of the most anticipated events was the World of Commodore 2025, held December 6-7 at the Admiral Inn & Suites in Mississauga, Canada. This annual gathering has become a cornerstone of the Commodore computing community, bringing together enthusiasts of classic systems like the Commodore 64, Amiga, VIC-20, and PET. The event features exhibits showcasing rare and restored machines, presentations on Commodore history and technical topics, and opportunities for attendees to buy, sell, and trade hardware and software. For many attendees, World of Commodore is more than just a convention—it's a reunion with old friends, a chance to reconnect with machines from their past, and an opportunity to introduce younger generations to the systems that defined early personal computing. The Commodore community has always been particularly passionate and dedicated, partly because Commodore systems were so influential in the early days of home computing. The Commodore 64 remains one of the best-selling single computer models of all time, and its impact on gaming, programming, and digital culture is immeasurable. Events like World of Commodore serve as living museums, preserving not just the hardware but the knowledge, software, and community that made these systems special. Attendees often bring their own machines to demonstrate, share restoration projects, and collaborate on technical challenges. On December 6, the Retro Computer Museum in Leicester, UK, hosted the "Awesome World Famous Legendary Gathering," an all-day event from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM that combined retro gaming, live music, and community celebration. The event's playful name reflects the retro computing community's sense of humor and its willingness to embrace both the serious technical aspects of vintage computing and the pure joy of revisiting classic games and systems. The inclusion of live music shows how retro computing events have evolved beyond pure technical gatherings to become cultural celebrations that acknowledge the broader impact of these machines on entertainment and creativity. The Retro Computer Museum event highlights how retro computing has become intertwined with retro gaming culture, as many enthusiasts are drawn to vintage computers specifically for their gaming capabilities. Classic games from the 1980s and early 1990s represent not just entertainment but historical artifacts that demonstrate the creativity and technical constraints of their era. Playing these games on original hardware provides an authentic experience that emulators can't fully replicate, making events like this valuable for both preservation and education. December 7 saw the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge, UK, host a "Bring 'n' Byte Sale," an event dedicated to buying, selling, and exchanging retro tech. These marketplace events are crucial to the retro computing community, as they provide opportunities for enthusiasts to acquire rare hardware, find missing components for restoration projects, and connect with sellers who understand the value and significance of vintage technology. The events also serve as informal networking opportunities, where collectors can share knowledge, discuss restoration techniques, and form connections that extend beyond the event itself. The Bring 'n' Byte Sale format reflects a key aspect of retro computing culture: the importance of physical hardware and the challenges of maintaining aging technology. Unlike modern computing, where software and cloud services dominate, retro computing requires actual hardware that may be decades old and increasingly difficult to find. These marketplace events help address the supply challenges that retro computing enthusiasts face, while also creating spaces where the community can come together around shared interests. On December 9, London Retro Computing hosted a Virtual Retro Social, an online gathering that demonstrates how the community has adapted to digital connectivity while maintaining its focus on physical hardware. Virtual events became more common during the pandemic years, and many retro computing groups have continued to offer online options to make their events more accessible to people who can't attend in person. These virtual gatherings allow enthusiasts from around the world to participate, share their projects, and learn from each other regardless of geographic location. The virtual format also highlights an interesting tension in retro computing culture: the community celebrates and preserves physical hardware from the pre-internet era, yet it uses modern digital tools to connect and share knowledge. This isn't a contradiction but rather a recognition that both the old and new have value, and that preserving the past doesn't mean rejecting the present. Virtual events make the community more inclusive while still honoring the physical artifacts that are central to the hobby. Looking ahead to December 27, CT Hackerspace in Watertown, Connecticut, is scheduled to host a Retro Gaming and Computing Day from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The event description emphasizes activities like reconditioning old machines, building kits for modern usage, and sharing experiences—all of which reflect the hands-on, practical nature of the retro computing community. These events aren't just about displaying vintage technology; they're about actively engaging with it, learning how it works, and keeping it functional. The focus on reconditioning and restoration is particularly important, as it represents the community's commitment to preservation through active maintenance rather than passive collection. Many retro computing enthusiasts see themselves as caretakers of computing history, responsible for keeping these machines operational so that future generations can experience and learn from them. The skills required for restoration—electronics knowledge, soldering, component sourcing, and troubleshooting—are increasingly rare in an era of disposable technology, making these events valuable for knowledge transfer. The retro computing community's December 2025 calendar demonstrates the diverse ways that enthusiasts engage with vintage technology. From large conventions to intimate local gatherings, from in-person events to virtual meetups, from pure technical discussions to cultural celebrations, the community accommodates various interests and participation levels. This diversity is one of the community's greatest strengths, as it allows people with different backgrounds, skill levels, and interests to find their place. The events also reveal the community's intergenerational nature. While many attendees are people who grew up with these machines, there's a growing contingent of younger enthusiasts who are discovering retro computing for the first time. These younger participants bring fresh perspectives and modern technical skills, while learning from older members who have deep historical knowledge and hands-on experience with the original hardware. This intergenerational exchange is crucial for the community's long-term sustainability. The retro computing community's December activities also reflect broader cultural trends toward nostalgia, preservation, and appreciation for analog and early digital technologies. In an era of rapid technological change and planned obsolescence, there's something appealing about machines that were built to last and systems that users could understand and modify. Retro computing events provide spaces where people can step away from the complexity and opacity of modern technology and engage with systems that are more transparent and comprehensible. As December 2025 comes to a close, the retro computing community is looking ahead to 2026 with plans for more events, new restoration projects, and continued efforts to preserve computing history. The packed December calendar demonstrates that interest in vintage computing is not just a passing fad but a sustained movement with deep roots and passionate participants. These events are more than just gatherings—they're celebrations of computing history, demonstrations of technical skill, and affirmations of a community that values both the past and the future of technology.