The San Diego Mineral & Gem Society

Special Events

In addition to our monthly events, SDMG also has a number of special events that take place yearly. These include:

· GemDiego: Each year, the SDMG hosts a gem and mineral show at the Al Bahr Shrine in San Diego. There are vendors, demonstrations, and door prizes.

· Dealer spaces are usually filled about a year in advance. Contact our show chairman for more information about becoming a dealer at the show.

· Here's a map to the Al Bahr Shrine and more Gem Diego show information too.

· The annual banquet: Once a year all member are invited to join us (usually at Tom Ham's Lighthouse) for some great food, awards and honors, and some wounderful presentations on gem and mineral related topics.

· The annual barbeque: Each summer, SDMG organizes a barbeque. This is a catered affair, and there is the silent auction where the bargains can be truly spectacular. Each year at the barbeque, donated rocks, minerals, and equipment are auctioned off to benefit the society. For the last several years we have held this event in Balboa Park. It really is an event not to miss.

· You can also bring your own tables if you want to sell gem and mineral related stuff at the barbeque. There is a fee for selling your own stuff at the show and your stuff must be gem and mineral related. Since we hold the event on city property, there are a number of city rules for this type of non-profit event:

· Dealers can't use any tarps, tents, stakes, banners or flags.

· Dealers must set up after 8:00 am, and must be completely packed up and gone by 5:00 pm.

· Dealers can only sell to members of the SDMG club and not to the general public.

· Pie night: We've had four of these so far and they keep getting better. Generally, one night a year, we combine one of the monthly meetings with pie night. Pie night allows our members and guests to get together and experience the glory that is pie. Plus we talk about rocks 'n stuff. You can show up with your favorite pie, or you can show up with just an appetite. There is usually a small, silent auction and some great goodies.

· December Nights on the Prado: Every December Balboa Park has an open house and the SDMG participates. The museums have open admission, there’s a variety of open stages with shows to see, food venders selling their wares and our society is open for people to walk in and look around. For the members who volunteer it’s free class time plus we have our own potluck dinner and snack area where we can avoid trying to eat a filling meal at vendor prices. We have exhibit cases, demonstrations, plus it’s a wonderful chance to educate visitors about rocks and try to find new enthusiasts to join the society.

· Christmas Potluck: Around Christmas time the society also hosts a club Christmas dinner which is pretty much another excuse for us to get together, have a small, silent auction, eat tons of food and get together to enjoy good conversation and good company.

· Demonstrations/competitions at the San Diego County Fair: Every year there are cases available at the San Diego County Fair where the public, including our members, can display the works they have created, and there are competitions that everyone is welcome to enter.