The Mariposa Gem and Mineral Show, an annual fund-raiser for the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, is all set to be even bigger and better this year. Gemstones, geode cutting, panning for gold, and lovely jewelry make this the ideal fun and educational outing for the whole family.
Beautiful crystals and gemstones will be on display in the museum’s extensive collection. There are lots of fun and educational activities for kids. A wide variety of gemstone jewelry and rough, breathtaking mineral and rock specimens, fossils, crystals, beads and mineral related crafts of all sorts will be available from our many vendors.
The Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club will be cutting geodes and doing various mineral and jewelry demos throughout the show.
Silent auctions and a huge raffle add to the fun.
All of this takes place at the Mariposa Fairgrounds on:
Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Parking is free.
Adult admission is $3; admission for kids 14 and under is free. Admission to the Museum is free during the Show.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, April 11th
10:00 a.m. Gates Open!
Mining & Mineral Museum Open
Kids’ Activities Open.................................. Museum Porch
Food Booths Open........................................ Outside
49er Gold Camp opens................................ Museum Porch
11:00 a.m. Silent Auction Opens.............. Sequoia Hall
Guest Speaker................................................ Museum
Dick Shields - Fluorescent Minerals
2:30 p.m. Guest Speaker............................ Museum
Joy McClure - Enamel Bead Making Demo
4:00 p.m. Silent Auction Closes
5:30 p.m. Kids’ Activities Close
6:00 p.m. Show Closes
Sunday, April 12th
10:00 a.m. Gates Open!
Kid’s Activities Open.................................... Museum Porch
Food Booths Open......................................... Outside
49er Gold Camp opens................................. Museum Porch
11:00 a.m. Silent Auction Opens............... Sequoia Hall
Historic Mining Presentation..................... Museum Porch
2:00 p.m. Guest Speaker............................. Museum Porch
Joy McClure - Straw & Water Casting
3:30 p.m. Gem Club Raffle Drawing
4:00 p.m. Show Closes
Things to See and Do
49er Gold Camp.................................................... Museum Porch
Talk to miners & see how they lived and found... gold during the California gold rush.
See the tools and equipment used to survive in the wilds of early California.
Pan for Gold.......................................................... Museum Porch
At the Gold Camp throughout the show. Learn about modern
mining from local experts, and take home your gold!
Dick Shields.................................................................... Museum
Learn about fluorescent minerals and lights. 11:00 a.m. Saturday
Joy McClure..................................................................... Museum
Making Enamel Beads: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Joy McClure..................................................................... Museum
Straw & Water Casting: 2:00 p.m. Sunday
Geode Cutting.............................................Outside Sequoia Hall
Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club Throughout Show
Free Children’s Activities...................................... Museum Porch
Learn about and touch rocks and minerals at the children’s activities booth.
By Mining & Mineral Museum volunteers. Make a wire wrap stone or fossil pendant.
Open throughout the show.
Kids Scavenger Hunt..................................... Inside the Museum
Win a prize for completing the hunt. Throughout Show
Silent Auctions......................................................Manzanita Hall
CSMMM Association & Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club
Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. & Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
A variety of rock and mineral items will be offered at this silent auction.
Proceeds benefit the Mining & Mineral Museum and the Mariposa Gem Club.
Bidding opens on the hour, and closes at the half hour, for each round.
Live Music and Food...................................... Outside by Gazebo
Live music by a number of local bands will be ongoing out by our food booths throughout the show.
Food Vendors:
• Daves Western BBQ (Inside Sequoia Hall)
• Cindi’s Hot Dogs (By Gazebo)
• Doughnuts A Gogo (By Gazebo)
• Tacos Sonora By Gazebo