67th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show

The Tampa Bay Mineral and Science Club is bringing back its annual fall show, the 67th Annual Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show, to the Florida State Fairgrounds on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8. It's an indoor, air-conditioned event, so you won't be fighting the Florida humidity while you browse.

More than 60 vendors set up, with gemstones, jewelry, cabochons, and beads on the tables. If you're into collecting, it's a good place to find pieces you won't see at a typical jewelry store. The club bills it as the premier event for mineral collectors and jewelry enthusiasts in the Tampa Bay area, and with 67 years behind it, it's one of the longer-running shows around here.

There's a kids' area that keeps the younger ones busy while you're looking at the stones. It includes a sluice for panning, a rock-identification touch table, a scavenger hunt, a mineral ID booth, and a bean bag toss. If you're bringing the family, that's a good spot to let the kids hang out for a bit. There's also a concession stand and an ATM on-site, so you don't have to leave the building for a snack or cash.

It runs Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Florida State Fairgrounds Special Events Center, 4800 US-301, Tampa, FL 33610 — enter through the MLK entrance. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and military with ID, and free for kids 12 and under. Parking is $10 online or $12 onsite.