Gemworld 2026

"Diamond Jubilee!" is this year's special theme at Gemworld 2026, as host  Gem and Mineral Society of Syracuse (GMSS) celebrates its 75th Anniversary.  The 59th annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show returns to the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds on Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12. There will be various interesting displays of fluorescent rocks, as well as other gems, minerals and fossils from around the world. 
Diamonds may be forever, but the show will be open from 10 am to 6 pm Saturday, and from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults each day. Scouts in uniform and children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult. Tickets are sold only at the door, cash only.
You will discover minerals, geodes, crystals, fossils and other items of interest for sale at more than 60 retail and wholesale dealers from New York State and 12 other area states from Vermont to South Carolina, Massachusetts to Texas, as well as Canada. There will also be beautiful jewelry, trendy beads, cut stones and supplies as well as educational exhibits, interesting demonstrations and informative speakers. 
The expanded Youth Activity Center for the kids will have a MINECRAFT (c) theme and look for this year. Kids can "mine" for blocks, plus there will be soapstone carving, a coloring station, hidden treasures in the sluice, a special slideshow, a Treasure Hunt with mineral prizes, and many additional activities.  Hourly prize drawings and the popular 25-Cent Straw Draw will be at the GMSS Club Booth. And two end-of-Show Grand Prize winners will be awarded on Sunday (attendance not required to win). Four Metaphysical practitioners will also be in attendance during the show, with a free presentation on "How Sound Healing, Crystals and Reiki Elevate and Work in Harmony with Each Other" on Saturday afternoon..
Free speaker topics at the Learning Center in the Annex will include ones on "Get the Lead Out: Geology and History of Graphite Mining in the Adirondack Mountains," "Doomsday 66 Million Years Ago,"  "The Bone Huts of Eastern Europe," "Asteroids and Meteorites: Treasures and Terrors From Space," and "Fossil Preparation: Techniques, Cleaning and Tools." 
The Gem and Mineral Society of Syracuse began in March 1951. Richard Sylvester, an employee of NY Central Railroad, was tired of taking the train to Rochester for mineral club meetings. He met with six Central New York people who were also interested in geology and rockhounding - the hobby of searching for gem and mineral specimens - and formed the Syracuse group. The first meetings were held in Lyman Hall at Syracuse University.
The GMSS Club now meets in the Ponderosa Plaza, 209 Oswego St., Suite 15, Liverpool, NY (behind Francesca's). Meetings are held on the third Monday of most months. There are monthly speakers who present topics related to the rockhounding hobby and geology, as well as auctions and the Knowledge Corner, which focuses on various subjects. Visitors of all ages are always welcome. More information is available on the group's website: www.gmss.club, on its Facebook page: gemandmineralsyr. 
Contact information:Cheryl Brown, Show Chair - show@gmss.club Matthew Klinger, Club President - pres@gmss.club