CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 2023
Meetings & Events
Updated March 31, 2023 – Winter/Spring classes are in session. Covid-19 restrictions continue to be lifted in San Diego County; however, students are asked to respect instructors' requests regarding social distancing and masking. All students must agree to abide by school rules and sign a waiver. If you have any questions, please speak with your instructor and/or email the SDMG president.
Only SDMG members in good standing may take classes, so if your membership has lapsed or you haven't signed up for 2022–2023, renew or sign-up via our web page now. Thank you.
I. SDMG & GSSD Meetings & Events
Mon, April 3, 2023 – GSSD Meeting, 7pm, SDMG Bldg.
Mon, April 17, 2023 – SDMG (Virtual) Board Meeting, 7pm.
Mon, April 24, 2023 – SDMG General Meeting, 7pm, SDMG Bldg.
Fri, April 28, 2023 San Diego, CA – Deadline for entries is 11:59pm PDT: San Diego County Fair »
Shows and events held in April and May 2023 appear in
The Pegmatite on April 1, 2023.
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 & Sun, April 1–2, 2023 VISTA, CA – Vista Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show
Sat, April 22, 2023 CARLSBAD, CA – Nineteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium
Sat & Sun, April 22–23, 2023 THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Conejo Gem & Mineral Club Pageant of a Thousand Gems
Fri and Sat, April 29–30, 2023 ANAHEIM, CA – The Searchers Annual Show
Fri and Sat, May 5–6, 2023 YUCAIPA, CA – YVGMS Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Sat and Sun, May 6–7, 2023 LANCASTER, CA – Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Society Gem & Mineral Show
I. and II. All Meetings, Events & Shows
Sat and Sun, April 1–2, 2023 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 10 AM – 5 PM; Sun 10 AM – 4PM
Admission: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: 760-243-2330, 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.
Mon, April 3, 2023 SAN DIEGO, CA – GSSD Meeting
Venue: SDMG Bldg.
Spanish Village, Balboa Park
Time: 7:00pm. Free Admission and ample Parking. Public Welcome.
Jim Parrish will present his program on Benitoite, the California State Gemstone. Jim has been collecting mineral specimens since he was a boy. His considerable knowledge about gem minerals is based on a lifetime of experience. He will talk about the discovery and collecting of Benitoite, which is unlike that of other gem minerals, so Jim’s presentation promises to be quite interesting. Attendees are encouraged to bring some of their specimens. We look forward to seeing you. Any snacks you wish to bring will make the night even better.
Sat, April 22, 2023 CARLSBAD, CA – Nineteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium – San Diego County Gems and Minerals
Venue: GIA World Headquarters and The Robert Mouawad Campus
5345 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Registration : Open to ALL now.
Registration Fee: $125.00/person thru April 15, 2023; $135.00 from April 16 through noon April 19, 2023. Includes box lunch and one copy of the printed proceeedings. No on-site registration.
Online Registration: https://sinksymp2023.eventbrite.com
Contact: events@gia.edu
Website: sinkankassymposium.net
The Nineteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium, celebrates San Diego County Gems and Minerals. The all day event will convene at the GIA worldwide headquarters and Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad, California, which has been the venue for all previous in-person events. Last day to register is April 19, 2023.
Proceedings: One copy of the printed volume is included with one paid registration. Want more copies or cannot attend the symposium? Printed volumes may be pre-ordered from mid-March through April 12, 2023, 11:59 PM. They will begin shipping from the print house May 15, 2023. Order online exclusively at: https://sinkankas.dpidirect.com. (This is the only print run in 2023. Extra copies will not be available. Next print run will be in 2024.) A free PDF-version of the 2023 proceedings will not be available for download until later in 2023 (release date TBD). It will be available only at: https://independent.academia.edu/SinkankasSymposium.
Sat and Sun, April 22–23, 2023 THOUSAND OAKS, CA – CGMC 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 10 AM – 5 PM; Sun 10 AM – 4 PM
Admission: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: conejogemandmineral@gmail.com
Website: www.cgamc.org
Jewelry, Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Rocks, Hobby Supplies, Exhibits, Demonstrations, Door Prizes, Silent Auction, Plant Sales and Youth Activities.
Mon, April 24, 2023 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.
A special feature of the April meeting will be the presentation of two scholarships to help two students in their academic pursuits. The William Tirk Scholarship is awarded for jewelry and metalsmithing, and the Carmelita & Bern Swartz Scholarship is awarded for geology. Traditionally, the scholarships are presented at SDMG’s Annual Banquet, which is held in the month of March. Since we did not have a Banquet this year to celebrate SDMG’s 89th birthday, the scholarships have yet to be awarded. So, this year's scholarship recipients will come to the General Meeting in April to receive their checks. We hope they will make brief presentations on their respective topics of jewelry/metalsmithing and geology.
We'll have refreshments and door prizes. If you want to bring something to share at the refreshment table, we won't stop you. Everyone is welcome and we hope you'll have an enjoyable time.
Fri and Sat, April 29–30, 2023 ANAHEIM, CA – The Searchers Annual Show
Sponsor: Anaheim Searchers Gem & Mineral Society
Venue: Brookhurst Community Center
2271 W. Crescent Ave., Anaheim CA 92801
Hours: Sat 10 AM – 5 PM; Sun 10 AM – 4:30 PM
Admission & Parking: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: nancyjbird68@gmail.com
Website: www.searchersrocks.org
Many dealers with their rock and jewelry related wares, and the best silent auction around. Displays of members’ work, demonstrations, stone carving, jewelry making, wire wrap, faceting and many other rock and jewelry related skills. There is a children’s jewelry area, where children can make a piece of jewelry and take it home, and a wheel of fortune.
Fri and Sat, May 5–6, 2023 YUCAIPA, CA – YVGMS Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Sponsor: Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Venue: Yucaipa Blvd at Adams Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399
Hours: Fri 6 PM – 10 PM, Sat noon to 10 PM
Admission & Parking: Free. Public welcome.
Contact: grandpasgems@gmail.com
Website: www.yvgms.org
Held in conjunction with city’s Yucaipa Music and Arts Festival which will include artisan and other vendors, kids rides, music, food and beer/wine garden. Festival and show is held along Yucaipa Blvd. Fifteen dealers, kids activities, geode cracker, club store, and great raffle. This is a great event for everyone in the family.
Sat and Sun, May 6–7, 2023 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: 10 AM – 5 PM daily.
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.