It’s no secret that I love gemstones and crystals – we have scattered around the house in every room, including the kitchen. One of my favorite shows all year is the San Francisco Crystal Fair at Fort Mason. The most recent one was held in June and we have covered this event before.
So, What Happens at a Crystal Fair?
The Summer Crystal Fair in San Francisco isn’t a very large expo but its intimate size is one of the things that make it so magical. I obviously go for the “deals” because you can get gemstones and crystals for less than you otherwise could in a store, or even online. I don’t recommend buying crystals online in any event, even though I have done it in the past and occasionally still do if I am after a gemstone quickly for a crystal grid I’m working on and there’s not enough time to explore elsewhere.
Their summer event is held at Fort Mason and is always a wonderful mix of crystals, minerals, beads, jewelry, and the healing arts. It takes place six times a year in 2 different locations. With over 40 vendors at each show, there are thousands of items at affordable prices. And, although they often have the same vendors, this means that you get to know them over time and so they’ll often give you better deals over the time. The more you buy of course, the steeper the discount. I managed to pick up three pieces of dark Amethyst, one from Uruguay at an incredibly reasonable price.
Who doesn’t love Amethyst after all?
There are also rarer rocks you can find and of course, both natural and polished gems we all love, including rarer to find Turquoise, which is becoming harder and harder to find at reasonable prices anymore.
One massive gorgeous piece of Celestite
Have a look at some of the crystal eye candy I took in all day — what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. And, it’s in Fort Mason, so you h ave a beautiful walk along the beach with breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge to take in before or after.
Stunning Lapis: they had jewelry, raw stones, polished objects like book ends, bowls and more.
Admission $12 (free for children 12 and under accompanied by adult) — check out their complete calendar! Their next event is the Summer Contra Costa Crystal Fair from August 4-5, 2018 at the Civic Park Community Center in Walnut Creek.
Do you have any other gemstone events we should know about and attend? Let us know in the comments below!
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
