CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Fri & Sat, December 5–6, 2025  BALBOA PARK, SAN DIEGO, CA – SDMG Open House at December Nights

Sponsor:  SDMG

Venue:  SDMG Bldg, at the back of Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego

Hours:  Fri, 3pm to 11pm; Sat, 1pm to 11pm

Admission:  Free. Open to the public.

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Parking is limited behind the SDMG Bldg, so it's first come, first served. Look for additional parking in the Carousel parking lot near Park Blvd. or in the Zoo parking lot. However, no matter where you park, be prepared to pay $35.00 debit or credit card ONLY for parking. If you have a Zoo membership that includes parking, then parking will be free but only at the Zoo lot. Apparently, there are no exceptions for handicapped parking. (The non-profits in and around Balboa Park and Spanish Village are very upset at the parking fees the city is imposing during December Nights.)

SDMG Closure during December Nights. SDMG will be closed to classes starting Thursday Dec. 4th at 1:00pm through Saturday night Dec. 6th. Classes will resume Sunday morning Dec. 7th.

How to Volunteer. SDMG members may work on or demonstrate a project for FREE during the Open House on condition that an instructor has signed up to oversee your area of work. It's fun, festive and you share what you’re doing with those who walk through the workshop classes.

December Nights in Balboa Park will open to the public on Friday, Dec. 5th and Saturday, Dec. 6th. SDMG will be hosting an Open House for visitors to tour the SDMG museum and workshops during the December Nights festivities.

 

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Sat & Sun, December 6–7, 2025  BARSTOW, CA – Mojave Desert Gem & Mineral Show

Sponsor:  Mojave Desert Gem and Mineral Society

Venue:  The Harvey House
681 N. 1st Avenue Barstow CA 92311

Hours:  Daily 10am – 5pm

Web:  mdgms.net

Displays, education exhibits, gem and mienral dealers, gifts for all ages, jewelry galore, kids' activities icluding grab bags and spin the wheel, lapidary arts and crafts, silent auction, raffles, and great food.

 

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Mon, December 8, 2025  SAN DIEGO, CA – Mineral Division Meeting

Sponsor:  SDMG

Venue:  SDMG Bldg, at the back of Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego

Hours:  7pm

Admission:  Free. Open to the public.

Parking is limited behind the SDMG Bldg, so it's first come, first served. Look for additional parking in the Carousel parking lot near Park Blvd. or in the Zoo parking lot.

The guest speaker for the last meeting of the year will be Craig Parrott and his topic will be Collecting Sunstone in Oregon. As an eighth grade teacher with summers free to travel, Craig has visited four different fee-based sunstone mining operations in Oregon. The documentary of his travels will be the focus of his presentation.

After the presentations we will have refreshments – so please bring something to share. The club will provide coffee, tea, and punch.

 

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Mon, December 15 2025  BALBOA PARK, SAN DIEGO, CA – SDMG Christmas Potluck & Ornament Contest

Sponsor:  SDMG

Venue:  Room 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park (opposite the Natural History Museum)

Hours:  5pm to 10pm; Volunteers, we start setting up at 3pm

Admission:  Members and their guests welcome, but bring a side dish or dessert that serves 8 to 10 people

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Parking is limited behind the SDMG Bldg,so it's first come, first served. Look for additional parking in the Carousel parking lot near Park Blvd. or in the Zoo parking lot.

SDMG Closure on December 15th. Workshops Will Be Closed For the Day! So, join the fun and head over to Casa del Prado (opposite the Natural History Museum)

How to Volunteer. If you can lend a hand, please text Potluck Chair Mark Herman at 858-774-8396.
Set up starts at 3pm. Meet at Room 101 of Casa del Prado. Volunteers will set up tables and skirt them with tablecloths and lightly decorate the room. Breakdown afterward and getting everything back to the SDMG building. Our curfew is 10 pm to vacate the room and leave it clean and tidy like we found it. If you can stay afterward to help, it would be greatly appreciated.

The Christmas Potluck is SDMG's last event of the year. Join your friends in celebrating the joy of the holiday season and looking forward to the year ahead. Come enjoy a great feast prepared by our very own members. And don't forget our stupendous Silent Auction, Door Prize Raffle, and Ornament Contest. In past years, 100 to 125 people have attended this fun event, so if you've never participated in this year-end celebration, put it on your calendar, and join everyone else for good food and lots of fun and prizes.

 

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Fri – Sun, January 30 – February 1 & 2, 2026  FALLBROOK, CA – 59th Pacific Micromount Conference

Presented by:  Mineralogical Society of Southern California

Venue:  Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Museum
123 W. Alvarado St.
Fallbrook, CA 92028

Conference Chair:  Al Wilkins, awilkins49@yahoo.com

Registration:  $20.00/person by mail in advance; $25.00 at the door. (Download the registration form, send a completed form with check »)

Lectures by Julian Gray, “Optical Mineralogy"; Paul Adams, “Micromineralogy of La Paz Co., AZ”; and Michael Cox, “Mercury Mineral Adventures: An Update.” Plenty of microscope time, lots of $1 table micro items, Silent Auction and Oral Auctions and free specimen tables. Field Trip, to be announced (meet up in Barstow). Meals on your own. Arrange your accommodations early as hotels/motels tend to book quickly.

Website:  mineralsocal.org

Program:  Download a print-friendly program »

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