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Oct 14, 2024

Rocks stay hot at Gem and Mineral Show | Desert Trail | hidesertstar.com

Christy Callens runs a booth at the Joshua Tree Gem and Mineral Show Saturday. JOSHUA TREE — Visitors discovered Earth’s wonders at the fall edition of the Joshua Tree Gem and Mineral Show Oct. 2-6 at

Christy Callens runs a booth at the Joshua Tree Gem and Mineral Show Saturday.

JOSHUA TREE — Visitors discovered Earth’s wonders at the fall edition of the Joshua Tree Gem and Mineral Show Oct. 2-6 at the Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground. Collectors and casual viewers alike shopped for rocks, fossils, gemstones, slabs, crystals, jewelry and more by vendors from the Hi-Desert and outside the Morongo Basin.

The Gem and Mineral Show featured several food vendors as well as a Local Voices Stage, playing a variety of acoustic tunes throughout the duration of the event.

“The music community here in Joshua Tree is just extraordinary. There’s a lot of songwriters performing and the owners of the campground approached me about assembling some local voices to perform during this gem and mineral show here, which has been an annual event here for many, many years,” said Paul Moeller, who performed and helped organize the talent at the Local Voices Stage.

“It’s nice to be able to share some original songs with people who otherwise might never have a chance to hear them.”

Even through scorching temperatures, the Joshua Tree Gem and Mineral Show boasted a steady crowd. The successful turnout comes one year after the original venue for the Gem and Mineral Show was sold to new owners and the 2023 spring show was canceled. Now prospering with vendors from across the country, this beloved Joshua Tree event is holding strong with generational growth.

“We have been participating in the Gem and Mineral Show for 12 years. I remember going to this event as a child and looking at all the different rocks on display,” said Jim Englin.

“My family didn’t have enough money to get my siblings and I something, so we make sure to have a collection of free rocks that children can take with them.”