

2016 SCVGMS GM&J festival $1 off coupon

The Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society announces their 61st annual Gem and Mineral Festival on April 16 and 17 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in the Exposition Hall. Come and celebrate the wonders of our Earth at this fun-filled family event.

This year offers some new and exciting vendors, displays, speakers, and activities for you and your family. Make sure to mark your calendar, and visit our club website www.scvgms.org for discount coupons.

Some of the highlights of our festival are:

• World renowned paleobotanist, Walt Wright will be displaying some of his vast collection of petrified wood. Walt has traveled the world studying and identifying many ancient species of plant life.

• Mr. Richard Wade, a renowned children’s science speaker, will be presenting different interactive talks. Richard is wildly popular with children and has a way of explaining scientific principles while making them fun and memorable. At our festival, Richard will be speaking at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM daily. Topics will be the “Last Days of the Dinosaurs” and “Volcanoes” for ages 4 to 104.

• Fluorescent Rocks and Minerals will also be on display in a darkened area and available for purchase at our festival. This is a must-see for children and adults. The bright “glow-in-the-dark” colors are simply amazing.

• Lapidary Arts demonstrations will be happening throughout each day. Rock tumbling, intarsia, cabochon making, sphere making, stone setting, silver smithing, wire wrapping, and beading are all possible demonstrations. A schedule will be posted at our hospitality table by the front door.

• Donna Kelley will be demonstrating the ancient art of flint knapping throughout both days of the festival. She makes arrowheads from a variety of different materials including obsidian and agate. It requires incredible patience and skill. Donna answers visitor’s questions while she works.

• Children will love our Kids Area. It is a hands-on, interactive area where children of all ages can learn about geology, rocks, minerals, fossils, volcanoes, and more. With their entrance fee of $3.50, children will get a worksheet to complete, a rock bag with 5 specimens, and a show patch, in addition to a fun learning experience. There are special programs for Cub Scouts and Webelos to satisfy their geology-related Adventure requirements and Girl Scouts can earn a fun patch and get a memory wire bracelet kit to make. Scout programs are higher priced according to the extra materials needed to complete their programs. Advanced reservations are not necessary, walk in participation for individuals and groups are welcomed. For more information on the Scouting programs please see our Kids Area webpage .

• Our Scholarship Booth helps support Earth Science and Geology students at local universities. This area has an eclectic mix of minerals, rocks, magazines, and a spinning wheel for children to win a prize. There will also be a station where geodes of various sizes can be selected for purchase and then cut in half by club members while you watch. While supplies last, children will also get a free sample of California’s State Rock, Serpentine. This year, we will be giving four San Jose State University students and one University of California at Santa Cruz student a $1000.00 scholarship each. Don’t miss this, there are lots of interesting things for sale and all of the purchases support our future scientists and geologists.

• There will be 30+ individual display cases from collectors all over California.

• There will be over 50 dealers with a variety of materials and items for sale including gems, beads, rocks, minerals, jewelry, fossils, lapidary equipment, books, and so much more. We will also have dealers who will be demonstrating how to polish, carve, and sculpt rocks and create jewelry. We have many returning dealers, but some new and interesting dealers, too.

The SCVGMS annual show will delight you with its vast offering of activities, displays, speakers, and vendors. Come, bring the family, and be amazed.

2016 SCVGMS GM&J festival $1 off coupon

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