BETHEL — The Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association will host its 55th annual Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, at Telstar Regional High School.
Dennis Gross, a lifetime member of the association and longtime show chairman, said he’s hoping that the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum being in Bethel will boost attendance.
“I’ve already had people from as far away as Virginia and Canada calling and saying that they were going to be coming to the show,” Gross said. “With the museum in town, it definitely helps. I’m hoping for an exceptional turnout. I’m going nuts trying to get it all set up.”
Among the dealers and vendors making an appearance are the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, AmberAmerica and Finesse Jewelry of Madison.
For an additional fee, field trips will be led by Western Maine Mineral Adventures of Bryant Pond. Friday’s field trip will be to the Bennett Mine in Buckfield and Saturday’s will be to Mount Mica in Paris. The field trips begin at 9 a.m. both days.
This year, the grand prize is a marine aquamarine necklace, valued at $350, donated by Sunday River Gems.
Admission is $3 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. The money goes toward scholarships, which “usually end up going to students who attend Telstar Regional High School.”
The Oxford County Gem and Mineral Association is still flourishing, Gross said.
“I think people like coming out to see what kind of materials these local groups have, and we try to give people a good deal on the items they’re buying,” Gross said.
For more information, email Gross at mincoll@megalink.net, or call him at 665-2759.
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