The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase – long known locally and internationally as the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show – is the largest gem show in the world. It is truly must see event. That is why Rockology will be bring you the Ultimate Guide to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. From the best places to stay, the must see events, the best local places to eat, and everything in between, stay-tuned for everything you need to know about the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Today we start with a little background information on the show and some must-know knowledge for the 2015 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show!
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Dates
Maybe the draw to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is because the showcase is held mid-winter in southern Arizona where the February temperatures have average highs in high 60s and lows in low 40s. The 2015 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show dates run from January 31 through February 15. Maybe it’s because Tucson is truly a destination resort sort of town, with nine resorts garnering 4-diamond ratings from AAA. Or maybe it’s because the show has been in existence for more than 60 years and its organizers know a thing or two about putting on a darn good show – one that will draw just under 4,000 vendors in 2015 to almost 40 individual shows. Buyers spent more than $70 million in 2014 at the many shows that comprise the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. The gem show is a true mecca for mineral wholesale buyers. For the rock enthusiast, there is no better place to shop. For the family looking for a great vacation idea and place to take the kids, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show has it all.
How to Navigate The Gem Show
In a word, the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase is sprawling. Shows are spread throughout the Tucson area. It has more than outgrown its humble beginnings in 1955 at an elementary school in midtown Tucson. It was known then as the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Now known as the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, its shows are so widespread through the Tucson area that GemRide, the city’s free shuttle system, runs three loop routes so wholesalers, retailers and buyers can get to and from the many venues. Their hub is the Tucson Convention Center downtown, which has connections to the Bead Loop, the Downtown Gem Loop and the Mineral and Fossil Loop. Many of the shows have their own shuttles as well.
New In 2015!
A new addition to the ease of getting around Tucson this year is Sun Link – the modern streetcar system that opened in mid-2014. Its routes service five main areas: from west of downtown and the history-rich area known as the Mercado, east through Downtown Tucson, north through the Fourth Avenue Business District, then east again to Main Gate Square near the entrance to the University of Arizona, and finally to the University of Arizona campus. People attending this year’s Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase will find the streetcars to be a real boon as the routes go through the heart of the show’s downtown venues – and no longer will travel be stymied by the streetcar construction.
The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase is really an umbrella covering about 40 individual shows. The premier event is – and has been since its inception in 1946 – is the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. It is held at the Tucson Convention Center February 12-15. It is open to the public and admission is charged. The theme for the 2015 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is “Minerals of Western Europe.” What sets apart the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase is the myriad of “satellite shows” that can be found at many hotels around town and in the almost countless large tents erected just for the February shows that run from January 31 to February 15. Some of the shows are open as early as January 25. A point to remember about these “satellite shows”: Most are open to the public, but some are open only to wholesalers.
Closing Thoughts
We know the gem show is a big event. With the right guide, you can maximize everything the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show has to offer. In the meantime, Rockology.net offers a little slice of the Gem Show year-round online. Enjoy!
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