CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 2024
I. SDMG & GSSD Meetings, Announcements & Events
Gem Diego 2024 – Heads Up! It's not too soon to start thinking about applying for a display case, see details in the print-friendly flyer (vers. 2/9/2024)
Mon, March 4, 2024 – GSSD Meeting, 7PM, SDMG Bldg.
Mon, March 18, 2024 – SDMG Board Meeting (Virtual), 7PM, SDMG Bldg.
Mon, March 25, 2024 – SDMG General Meeting, 7PM, SDMG Bldg.
Sun, April 7, 2024 San Diego, CA – SDMG Equipment Sale
Detailed listings for Shows and Events appear in The Pegmatite
Join the SDMG mailing list to receive regular e-Newsletters with a link to the bulletin
II. On the Go… To a Show & Other Events
Sat and Sun, March 2–3, 2024 – VENTURA, CA 61st Annual VGMS Show
Fri, Sat & Sun, March 8–10, 2024 VICTORVILLE, CA – 48th Annual Stoddard Wells Rock Hound Tailgate
Sat, March 17, 2024 FALLBROOK, CA – FGMS Rough & Cut Show
Sat & Sun, April 6–7, 2024 VISTA, CA – Vista Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show
Sat, April 13, 2024 LAKE ELSINORE, CA – 4th Annual Lake Elsinore Rock & Craft Show
Sat & Sun, April 20–21, 2024 THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Conejo Gem & Mineral Club 47th Annual Pageant of a Thousand Gems
CARLSBAD, CA – Annual Sinkankas Symposium – CANCELED for 2024
Fri and Sat, April 27–28, 2024 ANAHEIM, CA – The Searchers Annual Show
Fri and Sat, May 3–4, 2024 YUCAIPA, CA – YVGMS Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Sat and Sun, May 4–5, 2024 LANCASTER, CA – Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Society Gem & Mineral Show
I. and II. All Meetings, Events & Shows
Sat and Sun, March 2–3, 2024 VENTURA, CA
61st Annual Gem Mineral, Fossil & Lapidary Show
Hosted by: Ventura Gem & Mineral Society
Venue: Ventura Fairgrounds
10 Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001
Hours: Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 10am – 4pm
Admission: FREE.
Parking: Fee for fairground parking
Website: vgms.org/category/gem-show
Displays of gems, minerals, meteorites, fossils and award-winning handcrafted jewelry. Includes educational exhibits of fossils collected locally in and around Ventura County, as well as a display of the California State Rock, Mineral, Fossil and Gemstone, featuring a gold nugget and Ice Age saber-tooth cat. Demonstrations include gemstone cutting, silver work and jewelry making, beading, and other arts. Raffle prizes and hourly silent auctions. Expert prospectors will guide you through the steps of gold panning, and you can purchase "pay dirt" to pan for real gold in your own backyard. You'll also see displays that include meteorites, handcrafted jewelry, and "Auggie," the California State Dinosaur.
Mon, March 4, 2024 SAN DIEGO, CA – GSSD General Meeting
Sponsor: Gemological Society of San Diego
Venue: SDMG Bldg, at the back of Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego
Hours: 7:00 PM
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.
Jim Parrish will give us a full report on the Tucson shows, with facts and figures, who's who and what's what. Jim has been attending the Tucson shows for a long time and has seen many changes over the years. We will have punch and cookies after the program. Please bring something to share.
Fri thru Sun, March 8–10, 2024 VICTORVILLE, CA – 48th Annual Stoddard Wells Rock Hound Tailgate
Sponsor: Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club
Venue: Stoddard Wells Rd. near I15
Hours: 9am – 5pm daily
Admission & Parking: Free. Open to the public.
Contact: VVGMC 760-243-2330
Website: vvgmc.org
Handcrafted and faceted jewelry, slabs and cabs, findings and equipment, minerals and fossils and TONS of Rough Material, dry camping, grab bags, Silent Auction. Saturday FAMILY Field Trip: Tri-Colored Marble 9am – 1pm.
Sat, March 17, 2024 FALLBROOK, CA – FGMS Rough & Cut Show
Sponsor: Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society
Venue: 123 W. Alvarado St., Fallbrook, CA 92028
Hours: Noon – 3pm
Admission & Parking: Free. Open to the public. Parking in church lot on Pico (across from Rough & Cut entrance)
Contact: info@fgms.org
Website: fallbrookgemandmineralsociety.wildapricot.org
Extraordinary minerals, gemstones, lapidary material, fine specimens, bargain buckets and boxes, and much, much more.
Mon, March 25, 2024 SAN DIEGO, CA – SDMG General Meeting
Sponsor: San Diego Mineral & Gem Society
Venue: SDMG Bldg, at the back of Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego
Hours: 7:00 PM
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.
Museum curator and past president of SDMG, Jim Parrish, will give a report on Eighteen Days in Tucson. He will share his impression of the various shows, unique and interesting mineral finds, and things he saw and experienced at this year’s shows. Jim has an immersive knowledge of minerals and a great eye for fine specimens. The theme of the main show this year was pegmatite crystals, so Jim plans on showcasing some of the exemplary pegmatite minerals he saw on display. We'll have refreshments and door prizes. By all means, please bring something to share at the refreshment table. Everyone is welcome and we hope you'll have an enjoyable time.
Sat and Sun, April 6–7, 2027 VISTA, CA – Vista Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show
Sponsor: Vista Gem & Mineral Society
Address: Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista, CA 92083
Hours: Fri & Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: info@vistarocks.org
Website: vistarocks.org/shows
Outdoor event in a rustic setting with vendors offering jewelry, slabs, cabs, and rough stones of all kinds. Tools, equipment, and other lapidary related items.
Sun, April 7, 2024 San Diego, CA – SDMG Equipment Sale
Sponsor: San Diego Mineral & Gem Society
Venue: Clairemont location will be sent in an eBlast on or about April 4th
Join the SDMG mailing list to receive the eBlast
Hours: 9 AM to Noon
Cash and Carry: Cash or Check only. We do not deliver, so for the heavier and bulkier items, please come prepared with your own husky movers, pickup truck, trailer, SUV, ropes and tie-downs, etc.
The SDMG storage garage is overflowing, so it's past time to unleash an equipment sale. Featured items will include:
- V-2 Ultra Tec, tool box with mast, 2 boxes of laps, faceting diagrams.
- Highland Park Rock Drill, with submersible pump and control unit.
- Diamond Pacific Genie #1, with six wheels, lamp and magnifier.
- Diamond Pacific Genie #2, with six wheels and lamp.
- Rio Grande Casting Kiln, new.
- 14" Lortone Vibrating Flat Lap.
- Dremel accessory tool kit.
- Lortone Model R40 Heavy Duty Rotary Tumbler #2, no motor.
- Midway Model 2084 Tumbler.
- Heavy duty anvils (2).
- Lots and lots of tumbling grit and polish.
- 27" Vib-Bra-Lap Vibrating Lap, on stand with motor.
Sat, April 13, 2024 LAKE ELSINORE, CA – 4th Annual Lake Elsinore Rock & Craft Show
Sponsor: Lake Elsinore Gem & Mineral Society
Venue: 32097 Corydon Road, Lake Elsinore, CA 9253
Hours: 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free. Public welcome.
Web: www.facebook.com/groups/530281757337262/
A wide variety of local vendors plus fossils and minerals.
Sat and Sun, April 20–21, 2024 THOUSAND OAKS, CA – CGMC 47th Annual Pageant of a Thousand Gems
Sponsor: Conejo Gem & Mineral Club
Venue: Borchard Park Community Center
190 Reino Road at Borchard Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Hours: Fri and Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: conejogemandmineral@gmail.com
Website: www.cgamc.org
Exhibits and Dealers. Door Prizes and Drawings. Opportunity Tables and Silent Auctions. Lapidary, Rock Polishing, and Jewelry Making Demonstrations. Youth Activities like Arts & Crafts, Learning Centers, and chances to win prizes. Your favorite raw-to-finished Fossils, Gemstones, Jewelry, Metaphysical, Minerals, Lapidary Equipment and Supplies, Rocks, and much more!
Fri and Sat, May 3–4, 2024 YUCAIPA, CA – YVGMS Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Sponsor: Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Venue: Yucaipa Blvd at Adams Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399
Hours: Fri 5pm – 10pm, Sat Noon to 9pm
Admission & Parking: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: grandpasgems@gmail.com
Website: www.yvgms.org
YVGMS annual show held in conjunction with the city of Yucaipa Music and Arts Festival (YMAF). The YVGMS show will include 15 dealers, kids activities, club store, geode cracker, and a great raffle. YMAF will have name bands both nights, other arts and crafts dealers and food, beer and wine booths. Great for the whole family.
Sat and Sun, May 4–5, 2024 LANCASTER, CA – AVGMS Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Sponsor: Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Club
Venue: Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (new location)
2551 West Ave. H, Lancaster, CA 93536
Hours: Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10am – 4pm
Admission & Parking: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: marylandoriole@gmail.com
Website: avgem.weebly.com
We will have lots of vendors, displays and activities for individuals and families.