I’ve been visiting the Tucson Gem Showcase for about 15 years now and one of my favorite things that I get to do is share it all with you!
Yes, we already know that Tucson is filled with mega-watt crystal energy around gem-show time.
When I’m there I find myself kind of like in a trance or sort of crystal-drunk. Then you have come down from that high when you get home. ** I know I’m not the only one who gets that feeling while there.**
But the magnetism of Tucson IS NOT just about the crystal energy. Yeah, it’s partly that but then amplified way up by the healing energy of the land itself. You can read more about my take on that here.
And then layer on top all the crystal lovers gathered there from around the globe in one spot — it’s the whole atmosphere! It’s total MAGIC!
If you’re thinking about heading out (and if you’re a crystal-lover I think you should try to check it out at least once in your lifetime), I have some insider secrets, resources, tips, tricks + wisdom on the absolute best way to experience and get the most out visiting Tucson for the annual Gem and Mineral Showcase.
Shopping for my coveted Ajoite!
2020 YouTube Livestreams
- Come with us on a gem show field trip!
- View some AHHH-mazingly large and vibrant amethyst at the show
5 Insider Secret Tips
- Lodging: Hotels book FAST so if you’re even thinking about going in 2021, start figuring out where you may want to stay now (hotels, air BnB or by-owner rentals). Otherwise, it’s gonna be slim-pickin’s … or no-pickin’s (if you wait too long!)
- Use Instagram to your Advantage: In the last couple of years, I’ve used Instagram to scope out the highlights of the show before I even get there. This way you kind of get the sneaky-peak ahead of time and can plan your stops and itinerary ahead of time based on what you want to make sure not to miss. Or even take a look at what just posted from this year’s most recent show so you have a good idea of what to expect. Follow any (or ALL!) of these hashtags and see if you can come up with any others (if you do come up with a new one, please post it in the comments below!):
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- #TucsonGemShow
- #TucsonGemAndMineralShow
- #TucsonGemShow2021
3. Transportation: What Kind of “transpo” do you think you’ll prefer? Hopefully, you’ve grabbed your copy of my free pdf above and you have a good understanding of how this showcase is laid out. It’s not ONE show. So you’ll need to be bopping all around town. Maybe taking an Uber isn’t going to work and you may not want to rely on the free shuttle. If you’re going to be renting a car, also be sure to book this way in advance. This year, they were all sold out if you were trying to book last-minute.
4. More than Just Crystals: Plus, if you’re like me you may want to explore some of the beautiful surrounding sites and things to do which aren’t in the middle of town (Tombstone, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Bisbee, San Xavier del Bac Mission just to name a few!) Personally, I think a rental car is the best way to go if you’re there for more than a couple days and you want to get out and see some of these surrounding attractions. Check out this site for a good overview of fun things to do in and around Tucson.
5. Use an App: Finally, there’s an app for that! Here’s the Official Tucson Gem Show Guide app for smartphones. It’s great because it updates you with the latest news, dining options, when and where each show is held, type of show (public, wholesale or both). It comes in very handy for planning + navigating around town.
General Tucson Gem Show Links
- 5 Must-See Tucson Gem Shows
- All About the Show
- More Things to Do in Tucson
- My Gem Show, Mining + Crystal Field Trips YouTube Playlist
My 2020 Tucson Gem Show Haul, Recap + Insider Secrets
Must-Reads-Before-You-Go Blog Posts:
- All About Recent Years Gem Show (and info about the surrounding healing vortex!)
- If you’d like a thorough Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Primer (plus Insider Tips!), I have a classic blog post here all about it. I feel anyone who loves crystals should get familiar with what this “show” is all about. Try to get out to see it at least once. Make it a bucket-list item! Someday, you’ll tick that item off. 🙂
- Shopping Tips! If you’d like some clever insider gem show shopping tips (not just for Tucson), I have another must-read classic blog post over here all about that.
2020 Mini-Scrapbook
Here I thought I’d share just a few of the hundreds of photos we took for Tucson 2020
Me and our Student Success Manager, Angie Yingst enjoying the Pueblo Show
Meeting up with some of our beloved CCH alumni at my Tucson Meet-up Event
Hanging out at yet another gem show in town with Angie and some more of our fabulous CCH alumni
Part of Team HM (Angie, Audrey, our Community Manager, Frankie and myself) went stargazing courtesy of Starizona. You should check them out!
Book signing and getting to meet some of our incredible Crystal Family @ The Ninth House
Basking in the glow + energy of some Uruguayan amethyst big-boys!
Class Photo! CCH alumni that happened to be in town for the Gem Show.
OK, hope you enjoyed that little virtual trip out to the desert.
Thank you for this! I have been wanting to go out there but feel so overwhelmed with it all so this is very helpful. In the PDF you mentioned bringing a reseller’s license. Where does one get that kind of license?
Hi Niki! You don’t HAVE to bring one, but some shows/dealers only sell to wholesalers and will require some proof that you’re licensed as a reseller (therefore you get wholesale pricing, can buy in bulk and don’t pay tax on it). If you’re a crystal seller in the US, you should apply to your state to get a reseller’s permit: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-do-i-register-to-collect-sales-tax-in-my-state-398765
2 questions… do you know of any good gem shows in the Midwest, I’m in Chicago. Was hoping to go to Denver in the fall, do they sell to the public? I don’t have a business and want to shop for personal use