TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Tucson’s largest free and open-to-the-public gem show could offer some new sights for visitors after some challenging times since the pandemic.
Some vendors say Tucson’s Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase remains strong while others are hoping this is the year it comes back from some slower years after the pandemic.
“I just came here to be overwhelmed and impressed,” said Sue Schweitzer, who drove from Phoenix to visit the Tucson Gem Show on 22nd Street.
She was buying lapis lazuli from Afghanistan from Ahmad Zadran.
“Most people coming because once a year this is an 18-day show. Different places, there is like a three-day show, everywhere three day. This is a big show, biggest show in the world,” said Ahmad Zadran, who owns Afghan Gems.
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“We have a lot of regulars that stop right in and seeing them under the bright lights they are colorful and yeah, brings people in,” said Andrea Flores, with Rockology Gems and Minerals.
From geodes to agate slices, Rockology Gems and Minerals has put on a display at the 22nd Street Gem Show for years.
It is Tucson’s largest gem show that is free and open to the public and is estimated to draw 45,000 visitors. By Friday, two days into the show, it was expected to have about the same number of vendors as before the pandemic if not more.
“Post-pandemic it was slow for several years and we’re expecting things to start picking up with the new administration,” said Maaz Scott, owner of Wolf2Raven Minerals.
Scott showed cut and uncut rubies from Morocco, which he said is a new find, and added that vendors are likely to reveal things they’ve held onto during the challenging years.
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“A lot of people here are looking to spend disposable income, especially retail vendors,” Scott said. “A lot of the wholesale vendors have stores nationwide that they’re supplying and that hasn’t dwindled so much. We still have all those regular visitors and vendors but the retail market is seeming to pick up here quite a bit, even in the first few days.”
“And I’m helping the local economy or at least the vendors and a piece of the local economy,” Schweitzer said.
All these gems and minerals on display ultimately help show off Tucson as a destination for new visitors like Schweitzer.
“So I’ll be back,” she said.
Visit Tucson said that Tucson has already matched the 2020 record of 52 confirmed shows.
You can find a list of shows and a map at HERE.
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