As August begins to wind down, that could mean only one thing: the return of Kaleidoscope Gem Shows’ Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show, with the popular event seeing its stature rising considerably as of late thanks to a serious uptick in local media coverage by the likes of outlets such as Newsday and Cheddar News.
The event will be held at its long-time venue of the Freeport Recreation Center on Saturday, August 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is just $5.50, but attendees that mention this article will receive a $.50 discount at the door. In addition, children under the age of 12 get in free when accompanied by an adult.
Catering to rock hounds, crystal collectors, jewelry enthusiasts, and more, the Freeport Gem, Mineral, & Jewelry Show boasts just about anything you could want of a sparkly nature, offered by some of the most well-established names in the field with decades of experience.
While the event has always enjoyed a high degree of popularity – with its profile rising consistently with each and every show as word-of-mouth spreads – their last show, held in April, was one of their biggest ones ever thanks to the increased media coverage surrounding it, according to event promoter Evelyn Gose.
“The week of the show, Newsday did a two-page article on us in the Explorer section. Two whole pages, can you imagine? It was a very well-done, in-depth article,” she said. “In addition, a reporter from Cheddar News came to our last show and interviewed me and the people attending. It's hard to tell if this coverage contributed to higher attendance figures, but I did have about 500 new people at the show who had never attended it before.”
“Seeing all of those new people there was really impressive,” Evelyn added.
The Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show’s upcoming August event, Evelyn noted, is a great way to get out of the house – and out of the balmy summer weather –and enjoy some refreshing air conditioning while perusing the various sundry wares of the many vendors who will be present that weekend.
More and more families seem to be attending the show as of late, with Evelyn saying that she spoke to several parents and grandparents in April who informed her that attending the show with their children and grandchildren was a great –and economical –way to get out and do a fun bit of bonding with them.
“They said this is a really nice way to spend an afternoon without spending $200,” she said. “It's a great way to spend time with their kids and to get them away from their phones for a while and just have a nice time.”
The show can be a captivating experience, with the many beautiful displays set up by the various sellers serving as eye-catching and memorable; they feature estate pieces, crystals, minerals and fossils from around the world, as well as exciting varieties of beads and more. There are also many inexpensive items to be found, as well as collector pieces.
The event has a universal appeal, Evelyn noted, ranging from casual collectors not looking to spend much to serious collectors looking for rare finds. And while there will be many new vendors at the August event, there will also be many returning favorites as well, with both contributing to the delight of both new and long-time attendees.
The Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show – which is currently in its 48th year – is a thrice-annual event; in addition to their August extravaganza, the show is also held every October and April as well.
With August’s show fast approaching, Evelyn expressed her extreme appreciation for the hard work of her many fine vendors, as well as the loyal patronage of the attendees that come each and every year. In addition, she extended her gratitude to the media outlets that have taken such a huge interest in the show, providing valuable coverage that has surely served to open up the world of gem and mineral collecting to a whole new range of fans.
“I'm very, very grateful for all of the coverage from these media outlets like Newsday and Cheddar,” she said. “It's really wonderful to think that the press and news sources are interested in us, and even know about us. We really appreciate the coverage.”
That news coverage, combined with its wildly popular and ever-growing word of mouth, ensures that the Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show will remain a mainstay of the Freeport Recreation Center for years to come.