Quartzsite Arizona Show

[Crusty_Crab]

Even though I fancy myself as a self-collector of fossils, I have always been interested and attended shows as they are excellent learning/networking venues. For the past few years, I have been attending the Quartzsite shows. The first times I attended, I was pretty lost since they are actually a series of shows, some overlapping, some not, at different venues. Very confusing. That's part of the charm though since there is much to like about these shows: they occur at a time of the year (winter) when nothing else is happening in much of the country, you can find excellent bargains, they are pretty relaxed due to the extended schedule of shows and they are mostly outdoors which has turned out to be a huge bonus in the age of COVID. My experience is that there are 3 shows for fossil enthusiasts worth mentioning:

 

1. Desert Gardens

This is an RV Park turned into a rock, gem and mineral show typically from January 1 to February 28. Vendors occupy RV parking sized spots, which are larger than your typical venue's vending areas. The show hours are typical business hours seven days a week for 2 months. It is all outdoors and due to its long schedule, can be visited in addition to the other shows. The parking and atmosphere of this show tends to be a bit more relaxed than the others as well. The feel is more wholesale type business, but every vendor I've encountered will also gladly do business with the general public. The common refrain is, "I'll sell the whole table or individual specimens, just tell me what you're interested in and we'll make a deal." I estimate the number of vendors around 50-100. The reason for the wide number is that thanks to the long hours and period, some vendors may not be there or open when you come. Some may not even be fully set up if you go early in the year. 

 

2. Tyson Wells

Another RV Park just east of Desert Gardens on Kuehn Street. This is a 10 day show during the first couple of weeks of January, this year from January 7-16. The format of Tyson Wells is the first show is for Gems and Minerals. After that show is a "Sell-a-rama" flea market type show, followed by an Arts and Crafts show. What I saw was quite a few vendors setting up shop for all 3 shows, selling a variety of goods not related to rocks/gems/minerals/fossils. I attended the Gem and Mineral show in 2022, and rock/gem/mineral/fossil dealers were actually a minority, scattered here and there but mostly concentrated towards the eastern end of the show (the northwest corner of Kuehn and Central). If parking and traffic is a concern, you can try going early or late to beat the crowds. In talking to some vendors, it seems that many rock/gem/mineral/fossil vendors will set up show here, then decamp for Tucson afterwards. I estimated the number of dealers in the low double digits, but still worth checking out since you can have first look at their selection before Tucson.

 

3. Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA) Pow Wow

This is typically a weekend show, extending from Wednesday to Sunday during one of the last weeks of January, in 2022 from January 19-23. Vendors typically occupy no more than a handful of tables, with some inside the building but most outdoors. The vendors are what you would typically expect at your local rock/gem/mineral/fossil show, just much bigger and more than you find in your normal local gem/mineral club shows (~100 vendors).   

 

While you're in Arizona, the FLAGG show (one of the first weekends in January) is the biggest show in the Phoenix area. Again, a weekend show, the format is a tailgate show, vendors occupy parking spaces outdoors with typically a handful of tables, although some vendors (i.e. the FLAGG Foundation) occupy dozens of tables. The size of the show is comparable to the QIA show, but there is a far larger contingent of local gem/mineral/fossil clubs at FLAGG than QIA due to their focus on education and outreach. By the way, if you have children, this is a good show to attend as many exhibitors/vendors have gifts or activities for children.

 

Following the January shows, you would then move onto the Tucson shows in February.

 

In conclusion, if you had 2 months to spare and the means, you can attend a world-class show every day for 2 months in Arizona(!!). For the rest of us, that kind of lifestyle will always be the dream while we save our pennies.