Gem show to shine at Ventura Fairgrounds

The 45th annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary and Fossil Show of the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society will be March 3 and 4 at Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura. Times are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun.

The show will feature 50 displays of gems, minerals, fossils and handcrafted jewelry from local private collections.

Ongoing artist demonstrations include wirewrapping, gemstone cutting, polishing, silversmithing and glass bead forging. Events also include raffles, a flea market, plant sale and 15 dealers selling stones, jewelry and fossils.

Children can enjoy a raffle for rock collections, sand-sifting for gems, making plaster casts of fossils and tours of the exhibits.

The society is a nonprofit organization and welcomes new members. The show helps underwrite educational activities.

Admission is free. For information, call (805) 659-3577 or visit www.vgms.org.