The 62st annual Sweet Home Rock and Mineral Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, in the Sweet Home High School Activity Gym.
Doors open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and close at 6 p.m. On Sunday the show begins at 10 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. to allow the high school gym to ready for classes on Monday.
Price is 50 cents for adults and children 12 and under accompanied by an adult are free.
Exhibits of banded agates will be on display in several cases. The many displays are all cut and polished to show off the splendor of gems.
Hobby displays from rock clubs throughout the Northwest will feature stones, jewelry and carvings, as well as local carnelian, Holley blue agate and petrified wood from Holley wood are exciting displays. Local school children will display egg carton collections, winning ribbons and trophies.
Learn about rocks and how they are formed. Bring a rock you’d like identified and an expert will explain the kind of stone, how it was formed and its approximate age. Some rocks may be centuries old and possibly valuable.
For other kinds of information, just check in at the information booth.
The show will include a variety of demonstrations.
The Third Rock will demonstrate cracking geodes with a vise to show the splendor inside and how some are hollow.
Eileen Paul of Roseburg’s bead patch will demonstrate bead making.
Emily Start will design jewelry pieces with wire wrapping and special designs on each individual piece. Start has precious stones for wrapping, so if you have a stone or specimen, bring it on Saturday and Start may complete it by Sunday.
Dennis Williams returns showing silversmithing. Walk around and find these artists at work.
Many dealers sell their wares in booths.
Participants can pick up door prize tickets, with prizes awarded each hour both for children and adults.
Every child attending will receive a free egg filled with polished agates, petrified wood and beautiful stones of many colors.
Children also enjoy purchasing the inexpensive grab bags of polished stones.
Attendees will also get a chance to spin a wheel to win prizes at the booth where rocks are sold at silent auction.
Look for the handicap parking spots and lots of room in the parking lots. And when your stomach starts growling; head to the SNACK BAR just outside the gym door, for tasty food and drinks.