Minnesota Mineral Club Drops Admission Fees for its Annual Rock, Gem & Mineral Show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds September 25 & 26

“The Minnesota Mineral Club’s annual show is in an exciting new venue, and we want to kick off our New Dates and Location with a bang,” says John Porter, President of the Minnesota Mineral Club.

In addition to the new location, days, and venue the MMC has dropped show admission fees for all attendees, although a one-dollar donation is suggested for those older than 16.

The long-running annual event was canceled last year, which was also the Club’s 75th anniversary, squelching plans for a celebratory event.

The pandemic set into motion a search for alternate locations. The search bore fruit, and the Club secured the Dairy Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the fourth weekend in September, just three weeks after the main fair ends. Most Minnesotans have witnessed a princess or two getting carved in butter at one time or another in this building.

The interior of the Dairy Building will have Information tables for club field trips, membership benefits, club merchandise, and related club activities. There will be a rock identification table where attendees can bring their favorite “Mystery Rock” for possible identification by experts.

Club members will be demonstrating various lapidary tools they use to transform sometimes ordinary rocks into objects of striking beauty. Exhibitors will answer questions and share tips and tricks of the trade and several Club members will be exhibiting portions of their collections.

These informative displays help viewers gain a clearer understanding of the minerals displayed.

The ever-popular Kids’ Corner will once again provide meaningful activities for sprouting rockhounds to get hands-on with rocks.

The main attraction for most will be the extensive vendor area where dealers from far and near will offer a wide array of rocks, crystals, tumbled stones, gems, fossils, carvings, lapidary-related jewelry, home, and garden décor, equipment, books, etc.

Over two dozen indoor vendors will fill the building with nearly 76 tables with another dozen or more outdoor vendors with over 30 full tables committed.

Food and refreshments will be available on-site from food truck vendors courtesy of the State Fairgrounds.

“We hope to make this first show in our new venue a celebration of our maturity as a Club, and a solid foundation for an ever-improving event in coming years,” says club publicity director, Earl Netwal.

(Interested show vendors should email showchair@minnesotaminealclub.org.)