1. The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® (TGMS) is the original.
When the Tucson Gem + Mineral Society held their inaugural show in the 1970s, it was the first of its kind, welcoming both professionals and the public. It continues to be the largest gem and mineral show in the world!
2. TGMS takes place annually in mid-February.
- The 2024 show is scheduled for February 8-11.
- Show hours are typically 10am-6pm, except for the final day (Sunday), when it closes at 4pm.
- It takes place at the Tucson Convention Center in Downtown Tucson.
Ticket sales for the 2024 show will start January 11, 2024. Purchase through the TCC Box Office (520-791-4101) or Ticketmaster.
3. Regular TGMS admission is $13, but there are discounts!
Single-Day Admission Prices
- $13 for adults and teens (ages 15+).
- Free entry for youth (ages 14 and under) with a paid adult admission.
Where to find TGMS Discounts…
- Coupon: Your best bet is to watch the TGMS page closer to the event date for a flyer that includes a $3 off coupon.
- 2-day pass: If you’ll be spending a couple days at the show, buying a 2-day pass ($22) will save you $4.
- Military + Senior Citizens: There’s a discount day during the show when anyone who is over 62 years old and/or active or retired military receives $3 off admission. (In 2023, it was the Friday of the show.)
These discounts are an either/or situation. They can’t be combined.
On a tight budget? Don’t forget to factor in parking costs! See #9 below to learn about the lowest-cost options and transit alternatives.
4. A single show has sprouted several weeks of shows!
The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show may be the original, but it’s far from the only show in town! Over the years, more and more shows have sprung up around it, creating an entire gem and mineral show season. In fact, there are dozens that take place from about late January to mid February.
Some shows might specialize in a specific type of gem or minerals imported from a certain part of the world.
To avoid confusion with the original Tucson Gem & Mineral Show [registered trademark], these other shows are collectively known as the Tucson Gem, Mineral + Fossil Showcase or simply the “Gem Show.” Most of them are free, open to the public, and take place about late January to mid February.
5. An entire African art marketplace pops up during the Gem Show!
One very special show is the African Art Village, which happens on the Mercado District Festival Grounds.
It’s an outdoor marketplace with many different vendors selling artisan products imported from Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Morocco, and across the African continent.
While some of the items would fit under the “gem and mineral” heading, there is much more variety than that.
You can find beautifully carved wooden furniture and figurines, jars of shea butter and black soap, baskets, bags, traditional masks, textiles, oversized necklaces, djembe drums, and even contemporary art!
6. There’s a lot to see in the Mineral District, where it tends to be less hectic.
As you head north of Speedway on Granada/Main/Oracle, you’ll start to see some gem shops and warehouses. This is where you’ll find the 1801 Oracle / Mineral Village Show, Rock Yard Show, and Mineral City Show, which boasts over 100 mineral vendors in one location. Even with all that, these shows tend to be a bit less crowded and easier for more casual shoppers to just pop in and out of.
7. Gem Shows set up in some unusual locations around Tucson.
You can find them outside warehouses, taking over hotel parking lots, crammed into a jewelry store or lobby, on festival grounds, and inside ginormous tent-like structures that are assembled solely for this purpose.
Visit Tucson creates a full list each year of show dates and locations and which ones are wholesalers-only.
8. Hotel rooms fill up fast.
If you’re coming in from out of town, make sure you have a place to stay well in advance. Hotel rooms, Airbnbs, and all types of lodging get more difficult to find and more expensive as you approach the gem show dates.
In fact, February is the most expensive month to stay in Tucson, according to Google Hotels “When to Visit!”
Apparently, you can call Visit Tucson Visitor Information Services at 1-800-638-8350, if you have trouble finding accommodations.
9. You’ve got a wide range of options for getting around.
Sun Link Street Car:
- Currently free to ride – and will be through at least June 30, 2023.
- Easily get to the 22nd Street Shows and African Art Village by riding to the western end of the line in the Mercado District.
- Also convenient gem show stops at the Tucson Convention Center (where TGMS happens), 4th Avenue, and Main Gate Square.
GemRide Shuttle:
The free shuttles that traveled between gem show locations in past years were discontinued during COVID. I’m not sure if/when this will resume.
Driving:
If you do drive, take it slow! Streets near shows can get congested with sudden stops due to bottlenecks at entrances or trucks loading/unloading. In addition, there are more people walking around and wandering across the street where you wouldn’t expect them to.
Where to Park…
Gem Show parking isn’t super expensive, but it is something to factor in if you’re on a tight budget. Or if you just don’t like unexpected costs popping up.
- TGMS: Parking at the Tucson Convention Center is $10/day. Other parking options in the area will be around $3-10.
- 22nd Street Mineral, Fossil, Gem + Jewelry Show makes a big deal about their free admission. But it costs $10 to park there. Which is kind of like charging admission for your car.
- Parking for the Mercado District (including the African Village) is $5 during the Gem Show.
- Shows in the Mineral City area typically have free street parking.
- Park Tucson has more information on downtown Gem Show Parking.
10. You can see gems and minerals in Tucson year round!
After Gem Show season, once all the crystals have been crated up and tents taken down, rockhounds can still find some hidden gems!
Alfie Norville Gem + Mineral Museum
This University of Arizona museum features illuminating displays and hands-on exhibits. The collection began in 1892!
- Located: 115 N. Church Ave. in the Old Pima County Courthouse
- Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm
- Admission: $15/adults, $5/children
Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery
I haven’t been inside yet, but the newly-opened space has 5 different dealer showrooms, a cafe and bar on site, and promises to be a “perfect setting in which to relax and enjoy a stunning selection of the world’s finest mineral specimens.”
- Located: 465 W. Saint Mary’s Rd.
- Open: Monday – Friday, 10am-4pm and select weekends (next up: May 12-14, 10am-6pm)
Tucson Geodes + Gems
Large gemstone art wall hangings, floor lamps, and sculptures and other home decor items. We happened to walk by just after they’d moved into La Encantada – even before it was on the mall’s directory!
- Located: 2905 E. Skyline Dr., Level 1 of La Encantada Shopping Center (just a couple doors down from Creative Kind)
- Mall hours: Monday – Wednesday, 10am-7pm / Thursday – Saturday, 10am-8pm / Sunday 11am-6pm (Store hours may vary.)
Drutopia
A curated selection of crystals, plants, and handmade plant hangers at the Dunbar Pavilion by the sweet and knowledgeable Drew Berryhill. His shop is outdoors year-round, centered under a large ramada.
- Located: 325 W. 2nd St. is the Dunbar’s address. However, you’ll find Drutopia closer to the northwest corner of University and 11th Ave.
- Open: Thursday – Sunday, 10am-5:30pm
Mineral Artisan
Home goods made from polished stones and geodes. Their display is the first thing you see as you walk into the merchant collective Proper Shops, which just opened at the end of 2022.
- Located: 300 E. Congress St., inside Proper Shops, across from Hotel Congress
- Open: Thursday – Friday, 3-8pm / Saturday 11am-9pm / Sunday 11am-5pm
Check out #ThisIsTucson’s list of 9 places to get gems, jewelry, minerals, and meteorites year-round for more recommendations!
Fall Show
Finally, if you just can’t wait a whole year to get your Gem Show on, there is a smaller fall gem show that happens in time for holiday shopping.
The next one is August 31 – September 3, 2023. It’ll include JOGS Gem + Jewelry Show at the Tucson Expo Center (tickets $15 general public, free for wholesalers) and Colors of the Stone with To Bead True Blue + Artisan Workshops at Casino Del Sol (free).
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