INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — GEOfest, one of Indiana’s most popular rock and gem shows, returns to the Indiana State Museum from Feb. 20-22.
The annual event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum’s downtown Indianapolis location.
The three-day festival features three floors of crystals, fossils and minerals. Sponsored by building materials company Irving Materials, the event is one of the museum’s longest-running programs and arrives as the hobby of rockhounding experiences a resurgence across the United States, the museum said in a news release issued Thursday.
Nearly 30 vendor booths will be set up throughout the facility. These vendors come from across the country to sell items ranging from jewelry and giant geodes to specific fossil and mineral specimens.
Interactive activities will be available for families and children. Participants can test their construction skills at an earthquake simulator, explore Indiana’s Ice Age past, or visit with the museum’s paleontologist. Community partners and local science clubs will also be present to discuss earth sciences.
Irving Materials will provide a cement truck as part of the event. The company will assist guests in creating their own trilobite paperweights.
The festival includes special programming for America’s 250th birthday celebration. These activities will allow families to learn about the geological history of the state and discover which past U.S. presidents were fascinated by fossils.
In the release, Peggy Fisherkeller, the curator of geology for the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, described rockhounding as an accessible hobby that connects collectors to the global environment. “Rockhounding is a hobby where you can spend absolutely nothing on it but time — hunting for rocks outside — or as much as you want on beautiful specimens from a gem and mineral show. It also opens up the world. Not only can you find amazing things from all 50 states, but you can collect amethyst from Brazil, geodes from India, gems from Pakistan and so much more.”
In addition to the main show floors, the R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab will be open for guests to view sparkling geodes and other geological artifacts. These galleries will provide a closer look at ancient fossils and minerals from around the world.
General admission for the event is $23 for adults, $17 for youth ages 3-17 and $21 for seniors. The event is free for museum members. Visitors can purchase admission in advance at the Indiana State Museum website to save on the cost of entry.
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