It’s October, and as every Long Islander knows, the countdown to Halloween is on. And while All Hallows Eve is one of the most popular holidays around, sometimes non-stop frightful fun can be a bit much for some people. But never fear…an alternative is available for those who need a short break from the spookiness of the season in the form of the Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show – presented by Kaleidoscope Gem Shows – which is triumphantly returning on Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29.
The event will be held at its long-time venue, the Freeport Recreation Center, following a recent spate of mainstream media coverage – including write-ups by Newsday and Cheddar News – which has helped to introduce numerous new attendees to the show, according to event promoter Evelyn Gose.
The show is held three times per year; the April show has been running for 48 years, the October show 27 years, and the August show 32 years, and the upcoming October event will – as always – feature its usual complement of fine gold, copper, and silver jewelry, estate pieces, minerals and fossils from around the world, as well as exciting varieties of beads and much, much more.
The October show will see the return of a number of long-time dealers that regular customers should be well familiar with, in addition to some relative newcomers as well, with all of them offering a diverse and fascinating array of items to choose from. As a result of this diversity of fine wares, the show has become a destination for rock hounds and gem buffs of all types, not only on Long Island but from out-of-state as well.
“People are now coming to the show from a wider area,” Gose said. “We draw people from all over Long Island, New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Staten Island, and many other places. So we’re really starting to attract a diverse array of people with different interests who are willing to travel a significant distance to attend the show.
In addition, another big draw of the Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show is how approachable the vendors are; many guests have noted that vendors are more than happy to speak with them at length about the ins-and-outs of their craft and answer any questions that may arise, making the experience of attending the show not only interesting in an artistic sense, but an educational one as well.
“I think a really attractive aspect of the show is that you get that one-on-one interaction with the vendors, which you don’t get with online shopping,” Gose said. “Every mineral is different, so attending and actually seeing all of these displays in person and speaking with the vendors is a good thing. It can really help somebody find the item that’s exactly what they were looking for, or that they didn’t even know they wanted.”
And for those who find themselves slightly adverse to the spookiness of the Halloween season, the Freeport Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show provides a great, inviting and family-friendly alternative that is nonetheless just as fun and engaging as trick-or-treating or an all-night horror movie marathon…but just not nearly as scary!
The Freeport Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show will be held this upcoming Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Freeport Recreation Center at 130 East Merrick Road in Freeport, NY. Admission is $5.50 for adults and children under 12 with an adult get in free, and if you mention this article, you’ll get $.50 off your admission fee! All admission proceeds go to the Recreation Center to support the various programs that they offer to the community throughout the year.
To find out more, please visit http://www.kaleidoscopegemshows.com.
