Are you ready for rocks? And gems and jewelry?
The Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association hosts their annual fall Gem, Rock & Jewelry Show from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Admission is free and it features exhibits and activities and raffles for all ages, organizers say.
Many favorites are back on the menu this year, noted club member Sandy Fox, from jewelry vendors to demonstrations, lapidary tools and plenty of — you guessed it — gems, minerals, finished jewelry, geodes, crystals, fossils and more.
New this year, Fox said, is an expanded and improved children’s area dubbed “Rock Alley.”
“We’ve revamped all the games so they’re new and fresh,” she said.
Photo courtesy ofPhoto courtesy of Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association/ The Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association’s 2024 fall show will include an expanded, youth-oriented “Rock Alley” section.
The youth section will also feature a treasure hunt and rock painting, rock identification with fluorescent minerals and cutting of some small geodes, she said.
“[There will be] a lot of new fun things,” Fox said.
The association, a nonprofit that has for more than 65 years worked to foster a love of lapidary arts, now boasts about 110 members strong. The group hosts two shows per year: one in March, another in September.
Show attendees are welcome to meet group members at their club table during the weekend’s show, where they sell rocks and will be displaying and selling some of the jewelry members have made.
Among the more popular aspects the of the show, Fox said, is the raffle. With more than 40 raffle items, the show encourages attendees to buy the $1 tickets and put in for the item they want the most.
“Being a New Yorker, I’m not shy so they have me do the raffle,” Fox said.
Photo courtesy of Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association The Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association’s 2024 fall show is set for Sept. 21-22 at the Vern Burton Community Center.
Proceeds of the raffle fund the club’s activities, association members said.
“They also like the vendors; there are always new vendors at every show,” Fox said.
The fall 2024 vendor list includes: Katabach Creations by Kathy Bachman; PSI, Inc. by Don Bradley; Barkley Gems, Beads & Jewelry by Lori Barkley; Bijoux by Dee by D’Ann Gonzales; Candi’s Jewelry & Gifts by Candi & Gordy Gerard; Joe Holdmann; Cosmic Earth Medicine by Aaron Houtman; Abyss Minerals by Jason Johnson; P&D Agate by Roxanne Jordan; Litho Cat by Bruce Kelley; Rand Products by Ellen Law; Forever Flowers by Denise Lee; Sky to Sea Crystals by Danielle Markley; Dragon Den Studio by Logan Matlock; Lil’ Log Cabin by Vicki Morgan; A Point in Time by Tom Prang; Amazing Files by Pamela June Rademacher; Susie Moons by Susie Roberts; The World’s Fossils & Minerals by Herbert Shepard; Michael Smith Jeweler by Michael Smith; Oak Bay Naturals by Gail Studeman; R&T crystals by Rick Williams; and, Addis-Sea Gems, LLC. by Aregawi Yekunno.
Food will be provided both days by Fast Burrito.
The association has a lapidary shop — open to members only — at 40 W. Harrison Road, Unity No. 4, in Sequim. The cub hosts classes/workshops on basic lapidary, silversmithing, wire wrapping, chain maille and practical geology. Members also host field trips. Membership meetings are the third Wednesday of the month starting at 6 p.m. in the KSQM 91.5 FM community meeting room, 609 W. Washington St.
For more about the Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association, visit sequimrocks.org.
Photo courtesy of Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association The Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association’s 2024 fall show is set for Sept. 21-22 at the Vern Burton Community Center.
