PORT ANGELES — Every year, a Port Angeles girl saves her pennies for the shiny raffle prizes at the annual Rock, Gem &Jewelry Show. And every year, she wins.
She’s one example of the “magnetic” attraction between children and rocks, event chair Kathy Schreiner said.
The girl’s father told Schreiner she writes an hour-by-hour schedule on the weekend of the show every year, Schreiner said.
“Wake up: 8 a.m. Breakfast: 9 a.m. Rock show: 10 a.m.,” Schreiner said, recalling the conversation. “And she goes both days, too.”
Schreiner doesn’t know the young woman’s name, but she’ll likely recognize her at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., this weekend. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
“Kids just love rocks,” she said. “Big kids, too.”
Every child will receive at least one rock when they enter the community center.
“As long as we have rocks to give out, we’ll give them to kids,” Schreiner said. But if it’s a small comfort, they’ve never run out before.
The free show, organized by the Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association, will feature “something for everyone,” she said.
“Jewelry for Mom. Rock Alley for kids. Free rocks.”
The usual vendors, plus a new additional space for craft table vendors, will display rocks, stones, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils and other lapidary-related items available for purchase.
Rock Alley provides free games for children, such as a wheel of fortune, bean bag toss, a dig bin and a water pool that allows them to hound for rocks right there in the community center.
Raffle tickets cost $1 apiece, and you do not need to be present for the drawing to win. Prizes will include a new rock tumbler, jewelry and boxes of rocks, among others.
Sales from food, provided by the Port Angeles unit of the Boys &Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, support the unit’s youth programs.
The show’s featured speaker, Elaine Bickle, will present “Rocks that Heal” on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Two demonstrations also are planned for the weekend. On Saturday at 11 a.m., you can watch a wire wrapping demonstration, and at 11 a.m. Sunday, a chain mill demonstration shows how to crush rocks.
If you wish to join the Clallam County Gem and Mineral Association, membership forms will be available both days. The association meets monthly, participates in classes and hounds for rocks on the Peninsula.
For more information about the association or the show, visit sequimrocks.org.
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsula dailynews.com.
