It’s almost February, which means The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (or the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase) is just around the corner (Feb 13th-16th). For native Tucsonans, this is one of the most popular times of the year. This tradeshow is the biggest, most important rock and gem show in the United States and vendors from around the world crowd around the Tucson convention center and in countless makeshift booths all around the city, showcasing wares from Morocco to China.
Most of the gem exhibits are open to the public, however many are also reserved for private buyers only; which requires a proper business license to attend. Although the convention center is the focal point of the action, the truth is that there is no one single area that represents the entire event. In fact, it’s not uncommon for motel bedrooms to transform into storehouses for rock and mineral merchants.
In the gem industry, the Tucson show remains the biggest of all the exhibits; however, there is many other gem shows around the country that also aim to grow in size and caliber. As a result, many of these smaller shows come to the Tucson gem show to stay relevant in their home cities, and to maintain a presence in the international market. This is one of the reasons Tucson’s show continues to multiply in size and scope.
Gem Show Transportation
If you’re planning to attend the Tucson gem show, there are some things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, the area around downtown Tucson can become VERY congested, and many motels and even resorts become booked for the middle week in February, so whether you’re visiting Tucson for the show, or other purposes during this time—it would be best to plan well in advance before hitting the roads!
Secondly, a lot of gem show attendees have expressed frustration about transportation options for going to different exhibits. Within the show are free shuttle services that are designed to transport attendees between the different areas, and these are paid for by the individual exhibit owners to help ferry clients to wherever they need to go. However, a problem frequently arises where the merchants will change the schedule of the shuttle routes at the last minute to attract more customers. For instance, a shuttle to a bead show that originates near the convention center may suddenly start transporting clients from downtown, even though the schedule that was submitted months in advance says that the shuttle arrives periodically at a different location.
As a result of this confusion, a lot of gem show attendees find themselves waiting around at different pickup spots, only to find their shuttle did not arrive. This means lots of stranded and confused gem show customers!
This is why we recommend a trained town-car chauffeur to handle your transportation needs to and from the show. By traveling via private car with UNO Transportation, you won’t run the risk of messing up your schedule as you wait for a shuttle that may or may not ever arrive. Simply call 520 247-1811 to book your chauffeur for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show!