The fate of the 56th Annual Clackamette Mineral and Gem Club Show at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds was already looking rocky, and now we have confirmation: The show has been canceled for 2020.
Typically held at the end of October, the free show is one of the last large events on the fairgrounds’ annual calendar.
Its future was somewhat uncertain since it falls outside of the governor’s current guidance that large events must be canceled through September — though that is likely to be extended until a cure or treatment is developed for Covid-19.
The nonprofit made the announcement on its Facebook page Saturday evening.
The annual event typically offers demonstrations of various lapidary arts (including faceting, sphere making, polishing, jewelry making and more). The show includes kids’ activities, vendor tables and displays of rare gems, meteorites, petrified rock, fossils and other cool stones, door prizes, raffles and a silent auction.
One of the most popular elements is the Fluorescent Mineral Display, which features selections from the personal collections of local Club members Mike Santino, Bob Oblack and Trent Sullivan.
All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Clackamette Mineral and Gem Club, which is dedicated to promoting geology, rockhounding, mineral collection, lapidary and jewelry arts through a variety of community activities.
Named for an ancient tribal word from the Native Americans who once populated the area, the club was founded in 1963 in West Linn. Its first gem show was held two years later at Gardiner Middle School in Oregon City.
