Top line: Forty vendors converge on the Mississippi Trade Mart with enough sparkle and shine to carry through the weekend.
The fun includes outdoor sluices with a chance to pan for precious and semi-precious gemstones and gold nuggets and the opportunity to see lapidary arts, precious stone faceting, glass bead making and silver smithing in action.
Dealers will have items such as antique and vintage crystal beads, hand-carved stone vases and art objects, unique gold and silver jewelry, rare precious stones and coins, fine pearls and turquoise beads, bracelets and necklaces with silver jump rings and more.
Also, "we've got a fantastic fossil dealer," says promoter Stan Bennett, telling of a fossil hunter who dives in lakes with water the clarity of chocolate milk for his finds.
A dealer from Alabama teaches folks to pan for gold - a big hit with kids - under a tent out front.
"I've seen people come up to the show and spend an hour and a half outside before they even come inside," Bennett said. Showgoers can also pan for gemstones, sifting to find the sparkle in the sand and dirt.
Another popular draw will be fresh, pure, cold-pressed shea butter in jars packed from the African calabash while you watch.
Typically, between 2,000 and 2,500 folks come to the Greater Southern Gemstone & Jewelry Show. This spring installment coincides with Easter, so the show promises "an Easter Egg Hunt on us" with prizes hourly.
What other people are saying...
bobtavlin - October 24, 2011 at 9:57 PM
I recently received in the mail (week of October 3rd, 2011) a "free pass" and notice for a "Greater Southern Gem Stone & Jewelry Show & Sale" at t...
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