Tucson Gem Show 2008

There are excellent maps and guides to the shows available at the shuttles and around the larger shows. Shows are divided into public and wholesale only, then area of town. So pick the type of show you want to visit and the guide and map will help you plan your day at the shows

Some of the shows are in Tents some are in buildings, others are outdoors under tarps. Some are large others small, but the variety of things to be found is unimaginable

Many of the shows are at the hotels along the freeway (I-10). They spread into rooms, the parking lots, extra buildings and tents.

Some of the vendors need large areas for extra stock. Pallets of cool things are everywhere for a few weeks in Feb

Some of the larger tents are at the ball park.

Inside these are huge climate controlled areas. There were even trees inside this tent

The shuttle vans had a TV running shows that offered information about Tucson. The shuttles are a comfortable and convenient method of seeing many of the shows around town with no worries about parking or driving through crowds

Some of the interesting things for sale at the gem show, salt blocks made into decorative lights that claim to have healthy properties

Crates of huge geodes. There were a lot of them at the shows

The free parking spot is at the Expo Center . There is a tent and chairs available for passengers who might be waiting for the next shuttle

JG&M Expo and JOGS International Exhibits

Shuttles begin daily at 9am with last departures at 6pm. Routes originate from the following four parking hubs:

22nd Street / I-10
(I-10 frontage at 22nd St.)
Congress Street
(Congress Street west of I-10)
Tucson Convention Center
(Granada Entrance)
Tucson Expo Center
(Irvington & I-10)

GemRide™ is a convenient show transportation service provided by the City of Tucson which runs February 2–17, 2008. This public shuttle is FREE and serves all key locations of the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase

For route information and other GemRide™ Shuttle questions, call 866-PARK GEM (866-727-5436) anytime between 8am–8pm for the duration of the shows, February 2 – 17, 2008.

Spectrum of Stones Econo Lodge, Globe-X Days Inn

AKS Tucson Show Howard Johnson Inn

Private parking lots are available around the shows. Most looked pretty full

More ooutdoor tents at a hotel near I-10

Many of the Tucson Gem Shows near the highway are also under A mountain, a nearby hill to the west of downtown with a large letter "A" near their top painted each year by the students of the University of Arizona

Parking was the number one issue for our crew. We were glad to have eliminated all the hassle by parking at one of the city run Parking Hubs and riding the shuttle between shows

Large tents at the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show Riverpark Inn

Between the two pavilions, vendors were set up and selling very large items, (geodes?)

Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show Riverpark Inn

Tables at the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show Riverpark Inn

Some of the shows took over hotel atriums and walkways even some vendors were set up in hotel rooms

RUBY ROUTE, Daily 9am–7pm / 30-minute interval (last shuttle departs 22nd St. HUB at 6pm)

Signs almost everywhere direct visitors to rooms or areas where various items are sold

Many of the rooms at this hotel are also vendors booths. Banners and signs direct visitors to rooms where items are for sale

Hard to miss some of the signs and this inflatable lady really gets attention at almost two stories tall

Each major show has a shuttle stop. Every few minutes another shuttle would show up. There are many, all are color (mineral) coded so it was really easy to get to the show you wanted, and many shuttles stopped at some shows (like the big one at TCC) so many routes could be taken to most shows, no need to wait for a specific shuttle.

Because of the construction, many streets are closed to pedestrians and parking. The free city shuttles get you around these barriers. The shuttles are small, but comfortable

Anyone driving down I-10 east sees these tents from the highway. These tents are the Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show and the Tucson Electric Park RV Gem Show

These tents are the Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show and the Tucson Electric Park RV Gem Show

AKS Tucson Show La Quinta Inn, Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show Quality Inn Benson Hwy

Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show

AKS Tucson Show Howard Johnson Inn, Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Holidome Holiday Inn Palo Verde

Tucson Electric Park RV Gem Show

The large tents at Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Holidome Holiday Inn Palo Verde

Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Holidome Holiday Inn Palo Verde

JG&M Expo Michigan St.

Parking with shuttle service at the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Holidome Holiday Inn Palo Verde

GemRide Shuttle at the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Holidome Holiday Inn Palo Verde

Food tents at the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Holidome Holiday Inn Palo Verde

Gourmet of China had a buffet line set up under their tent

Large tents at the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Gem Mall

Private parking lots near the events fill then when someone leaves they open again.. close but not as reliable as city parking in our opinion

The gusts of wind really messed up the banners and signs for almost every location

Small beads on strings and larger beads sorted in boxes

colored stone beads sorted by color and shape

metal beads and an assortment of black beads

Jewelry and carved displays for jewelry. Very interesting works of art on their own

Carvings and clay pots are about as far off minerals as the vendors got. I also saw some rugs. But little food and almost nothing like the mass produced gadgets that you see at swap meets and outdoor trade shows

Beads and jewelry of all shapes, colors and sizes

Local Tucson store, Kent's Tools offered a huge assortment of tools and equipment