The 54th Annual Gem & Mineral Show!
GOLDEN GATEWAY TO GEMS
Saturday, August 2, 2008 - 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday, August 3, 2008 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
At the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park
(The Hall of Flowers) - adjacent to Strybing Arboritum
Just inside the park entrance at Ninth Ave. & Lincoln Way
(Click for a map)
Easy access on MUNI - (Click for Muni lines)
California Collecting
The theme for this year's show is California Collecting. Our state is blessed with mineral and gem riches of every imaginable kind. From the rarest of gems, like the California State Gemstone benitoite, to dazzling examples of California amethyst, tourmaline, jade, garnet, jasper, agate and much much more. Enthusiasts of every stripe will exhibit the treasures they have found on their excursions, high and low, to every corner of our bountiful state.
California's State Gem, Benitoite. |
Gems and minerals for sale. |
Discount Available
The show is $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors and students. Children under 12 are free with paid adult. A discount is available with a show flyer - click below for a printable copy. Just bring it with you to the show and present it when paying for $1.00 off the admission price!
Click here for show flyer which can be used for $1.00 off admission at the show
Valuable Raffle Prizes!
Every paid attendee at the show is eligible and invited to enter in our raffle for valuable prizes at the end of the show. You don't need to be present to win, just fill out an entry form at the information desk inside the show. A drawing from these raffle tickets will be held at the end of the show and the winners will be notified. This year the prizes are worth thousands of dollars - making each $3 raffle ticket an excellent bargain! You can buy as many tickets as you like. Below are some (but not all) of the prizes to be awarded to lucky winners at the end of the show.
 Crocheted Bead Necklace |
 Finely Woven Bead Bracelet |
 Silver & Ruby Pendant |
 Silver & Rose Quartz Ring |
 Siver & Smokey Quartz Pendant |
Door Prizes!
Paid attendees also receive a door prize ticket on entry to the show giving them a chance to win door prizes. There's no extra charge, but you must be present to win and claim a door prize when ticket numbers are announced. There will be a door prize drawing every hour throughout the show.
Gem, Mineral and Lapidary Dealers
There will be dozens of rock, gem and jewelry vendors offering everything from rough lapidary and gem materials, to fine specimens, to beautiful and unique jewelry that you'll never find at the mall. Many offer books and equipment for those wanting to learn about lapidary arts and jewelry-making. Don't miss this once-a-year chance to obtain your hearts desire at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco!
Live lapidary demonstrations. |
Purchase spectacular world-class crystals & minerals. |
Demonstrations & Lectures
There will be live demonstrations in lapidary arts and jewelry fabricating techniques, and free lectures with renowned experts on many topics of interest in the gem and mineral world!
Demonstrations:
Wire-craft and Wire-wrap Techniques
Rock and Gem Carving
Bead Stringing and Beading Techniques
Bring in those unidentified rocks and minerals! We will have a booth with rock and gem "experts" to identify those mystery rocks and minerals that have kept you awake endless nights!
Scheduled Lectures
Sunday August 3rd. at 12:30 PM; Si and Ann Frazier
"Minerals and Rocks of California"
Sunday August 3rd. at 3:00 PM; Mike Burkleo
"California Jade"
Easily accessible on the following MUNI lines:
Lines 44 and 71 Stop at Ninth & Lincoln Way (at park entrance)
Line "N" Stops at Ninth & Irving (just one block from park entrance)
Lines 6, 66 and 43 Stop at Ninth & Judah (two short blocks from park entrance)
Exhibits of finished work by club-members. |
Interactive family fun! |
There's also ample parking in the park's underground parking garage!
Parking is available in the new Music Concourse Garage. The north entrance of the Music Concourse Parking is from Fulton St. at 10th Ave. The south entrance (closer to the show) is at Concourse Dr. and Martin Luther King Dr. inside the park, just north of the Hall of Flowers (about a one block walk).
 Spheres - made at our clubhouse! |
 Collected in California! |
More Information
Show Chairperson Ellen Nott is was recently interviewed about the show and the SFGMS by local media personality Jack Hansen for Comcast Newsmakers, Local Edition, which airs in segment breaks from CNN's Headline News throughout the day. Ellen's five minute segment will be shown during selected breaks throughout the month of July leading up to the August 2nd and 3rd show. Click here for scheduled air times - the segment will air on comcast systems in Daly City, Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, Palo Alto, and San Francisco.