The 55th Annual Rock and Mineral Show

The 55th Annual St. Lawrence Rock and Mineral Show occurred this past weekend. From August 27 to August 28, vendors came to the Canton Recreational Pavilion Ice Rink to showcase and sell their collection of rocks, minerals, jewelry and much more. There were over a dozen vendors who swapped and sold a variety of goods starting at 9:00 a.m. until the mid-afternoon.  

New and returning students might have noticed the yellow signs scattered throughout Canton advertising show. Alexis Jablonski ’23 saw the sign located at the Canton Village Park and knew that she had to go. She went with two friends on the second day of the show. According to Jablonski, the parking lot adjacent to the Bend in the River Park filled up with rock and mineral enthusiasts, with cars lining the side of Lincoln Street.  

After paying the $3 admission fee to the show, participants could enter the pavilion, which was bustling with activity. Vendors sold a variety of items. Included in the tables, attendees could find fossils, jewelry, vintage geology posters, leather goods, crystals and all the rocks and minerals that someone could wish for. Jablonski was excited to see a wide variety of polished gems and even some locally sourced rocks.  

Jablonski was a little surprised by the show. This was her first time going to a rock and mineral show. She expected people to be displaying geological finds. “I wasn’t expecting to walk into a market,” she said. “Nonetheless, it was very cool.” 

The St. Lawrence Co. Rock and Mineral Club sponsored the Rock and Mineral Show. With over 90 members, the local club will usually meet once a month at the Canton Free Library. Together, the club will go on digs and attend other rock and mineral shows. The club’s website also includes links to live mineral talks, a gem reference library and a review of gemology courses.  

Jablonski and her friend, Morgan Hanaway ’23, were surprised to walk out of the rock and mineral show with paper, instead of rocks. “We took a hard left and ended up purchasing posters from a gentleman who was a career geologist,” she said. “He kindly sold up his poster collection.” Hanaway and Jablonski now have some of those posters on display.  

Although Hanaway and Jablonski did not walk away with any rocks, they had a friend purchase some jewelry. “Our housemate bought a lapis lazuli ring and a bracelet,” Hanaway said. 

“I was surprised by the number of people there,” Jablonski said. “It seemed like a really engaging group of people.” It was primarily community members, but Hanaway “did spot some other SLU students there.”