The 37th annual Grassy Creek Mineral and Gem Show made its way this past week to the Upper Skyview Circle property behind Spruce Pine Chevy.
The free show, which is sponsored by and supports Parkway Fire and Rescue Department to help fund new equipment and buildings, ran from Sunday, July 25 through Sunday, Aug. 1.
Show organizers Donna Collis and Roger Frye have helped plan the show for decades. The show raises an average of $20,000 annually for Parkway Fire and Rescue and the funds go directly toward a myriad of operating expenses.
The 2021 show featured more than 60 vendors from various locations selling mineral specimens, fossils and even lapidary equipment.
Each booth featured unique rocks and gems from several locations. Some vendors even sold handmade jewelry and other craft pieces.
Pete Dethlefs, owner of Maggie Valley Rock Shop has sold at the show for more than a decade.
“I have been coming to Spruce Pine for 12 years,” Dethlefs said. “I come every year. It’s a good show and they have so many different vendors.
“I sell a little bit of everything if it’s rock-related. Jewelry, sage, crystals, minerals and fossils, you name it. And this is only a fraction of what I have.”
Although the show is over until next summer, devout show supporters Robert Tomison and Mabel Benjamin continue to sell gems, rocks, minerals and jewelry all year on their own at their store Rocks and Things on Upper Street in Spruce Pine.
The duo set up at the 2021 show, as they have done for more than three decades.
The Rocks and Things booth sold a variety of pieces including those made with amethyst, jade, quartz and other rocks and minerals the two discovered.
“My wife has had this store open for almost 20 years,” Tomison said. “My wife has been at the gem festival as a vendor for over 35 years. She’s got booth number one. First one on the right.”