The large annual Denver Gem Show is always held around the second week of September.

HISTORY OF THE DENVER GEM, ROCK, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW

In the 1950s, six different Denver area gem and mineral clubs each put on their own gem and mineral shows, but in 1967 the Denver Gem and Mineral show was born when the clubs combined their small shows into one. These now 7 clubs make up the not-for-profit Greater Denver Area Gem & Mineral Council, which in turn puts on the Denver Gem & Mineral Show™. This show is often referred to as the Main Show. For many years the show was at The Denver Merchandise Mart and it was always the second weekend of September. Over time numerous satellite shows have sprouted up around the area and "The Denver Gem Show" has grown over the years into the second largest rock and mineral show in the United States, after the world-famous January/February Tucson Gem Show.

The main complaint of this amazing show is that the distances you have to travel to go from show to show are quite long, and Denver traffic, especially at some times of the day, is brutal.

One of the first satellite shows was produced by Marty Zinn of MZExpos at The Holiday Inn Denver Central. I’m not sure of the exact date but I believe it was in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s. Later the hotel became the Ramada Plaza. It was a very popular destination for collectors of fossils, minerals, and meteorites. This show extended the event to a week-long show.

Across the railroad tracks was the Quality Inn show produced by George Topham. Which later became the Viscount and is now the Clarion. The show, now produced by Danny Duke of JG&M since 2012, leans towards metaphysical items, crystals, jewelry, beads, and African crafts. The JG&M Expo, at the Clarion Hotel is now the longest-standing show (at the same venue) in the Denver Showcase.

Lowell Carhart started the Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show in 2010 at the Coliseum. The show has seen lots of growth and some road construction difficulties. Combined with the National Western Complex put on by A. S. Shows, Inc. (of the Kino show in Tucson fame) and the Miner’s Co-op, it has the largest collection of vendors.

In 2017 Marty Zinn lost the contract with the Ramada Inn. He sold the show to Sandra Gonzalez of RMGM Promotions, who moved the entire show to The Crowne Plaza.

The newest addition is The Hard Rock Summit Show at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. This 3-day show is put on by Christoph Keilmann, whose parents founded the Munich Gem show almost 60 years ago. Christoph’s vision of an upscale platform for gemstones and jewelry has successfully taken the Munich Show to the next level, making it Europe´s most relevant fair for the jewelry and gemstone industries in the fall season.

In 2021 The Merchandise Mart in Denver was sold and scheduled for demolition. Now the original club show has moved to the Convention Center in conjunction with the Hard Rock Summit, as well as the AGTA show and the new LLD Denver Mineral Hall.

As of 2023 there were 11 shows at the Denver Rock and Mineral Show as well as a scattering of smaller venues. The Coliseum show runs 10 days and the Crowne Plaza show is 9 days long. There are roughly 1000 vendors and exhibitors participating. Most of the shows are open to the public and are free, however there is a charge to attend the Hard Rock Summit and the Club show at the Convention Center.

Below is the list of shows that I am aware of and their current published information and dates for 2023:

LIST OF DENVER GEM SHOW VENUES AND 2023 DATES

Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center

15500 E 40th Ave, Denver

Colorado Mineral and Fossil Fall Show

September 8 - September 16, 2023

If you love fossils, dinosaurs, gemstones, lapidary, cabochons, handmade jewelry, crystals, meteorites, gold, silver, turquoise, pyrites, and mineral specimens, then our show is your destination! Lots of free parking and free admission. There are 2 large ballrooms, and a couple of large dealers in banquet rooms, a wholesale ballroom, the lobby area, individual dealers in hotel rooms and outside tents.

Just Minerals and Crystals Event 

Summit Conference & Event Center

411 Sable Blvd, Aurora, Denver

September 7 - September 11, 2023

We have filled the Summit Convention and Event Center in Aurora with 17 dealers. New additions include Dave Bunk, Marshall Sussman (Crystal Cellar) and Evan Jones (Unique Minerals). We will have a full range show with top dealers having the latest in new finds, old collections and a club show environment. The facility is in a large strip mall so parking is absolutely no problem. It is a 7-10 minute drive from the Crowne Plaza show just one block east of I-225. No downtown traffic, no super expensive hotels, no difficult (and expensive) parking. Between the Crowne and JMCE there will be over 100 dealers.

Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show 

National Western Complex

4655 Humboldt St., Denver

September 8 - September 17, 2023 

(Commonly referred to as the Coliseum show, though due to construction issues, it is now held across the street at the large 2-level Events Center, and the 3-level National Western Complex (NWC), the Denver Coliseum and 100 tents adjacent to all 3 buildings.)

Also in the same location:

Miner’s Co-op 

September 8 - September 17, 2023

The Miner’s Co-Op will be returning this year to an outdoor show in the Coliseum parking lot, making access to load larger purchases safe and seamless.

Denver Expo Show

September 8 - September 17, 2023

Runs in conjunction with the Denver Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry show and located on the second floor (Street level, main entrance on Humboldt St).

Denver’s Original Gem & Mineral Show (called The Main Show)

Colorado Convention Center

700 14th St., Denver

September 15 - September 17, 2023

The Greater Denver Area Gem & Mineral Council is pleased to announce that it will again be hosting the 2023 Denver Gem & Mineral Show in conjunction with the Hardrock Summit, to be held at the Colorado Convention Center. The Denver Gem & Mineral Show will occupy the space on the upper, entry level of the Convention Center.

Also in the same location:

HardRock Summit 

Colorado Convention Center Four Seasons Ballroom

September 15 - September 18, 2023

Making its debut in 2021, the HardRock Summit show returns to the Colorado Convention Center, this year’s HardRock Summit is open to buyers and sellers as well as the general public.

AGTA GemFair™

Mile High Ballroom 

September 15 - September 18, 2023

The AGTA show is a wholesale only show and is known primarily for colored gemstones and jewelry.

LLD Denver Mineral Hall

Colorado Independent Warehouse Show-Fall TBD

Rock Warehouse, Vicjohn, and J K Stone

810 Quail St., Denver

Three large rock and mineral dealers selling from the own warehouses. I believe they are wholesale only.

InterGem Denver Wholesale Gem & Jewelry Show TBD

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center

6700 N Gaylord Rockies Blvd, Aurora

Formally showing at the merchandise mart, the InterGem Denver, CO Wholesale Gem & Jewelry Show is one of the longest running shows. With nearly 55 years of experience bringing excellent quality vendors directly to buyers.

JG&M Denver Show TBD

Clarion Hotel Denver Central

200 W 48th Ave, Denver

Open to the public, JG&M Expo is a mixed retail and wholesale show. Registration is not required for admittance, and admission and parking are free. This is the longest running show at the same location.

Also at this location:

Second Floor Metaphysical Show TBD

Barlow Gems (aka OakRocks) has participated in the Denver Rock and Mineral Show for over 40 years. We started at the Main show at the Merchandise Mart. We moved to their wholesale section and then split locations also showing in the parking lot tent at the Holiday Inn show in the early 1990’s. We found that many wholesale buyers wanted to come in earlier and the Main show was just too short-so we moved completely to the Holiday Inn. When that whole show moved in 2017 to the Crowne Plaza, we went with it. Though we loved all the shows and promoters we REALLY love this (indoor for us!) nice facility with lots of space and parking.

We currently show in the wholesale ballroom. We have our famous display of designer cabochons, but we also offer our popular line of natural Rocks in Boxes, as well as lots of polished rocks and slabs, metaphysical items, crystals, high end gemstone animal carvings, and more. Due to logistics, we do not carry rough rock here-you’ll have to come see us at The Rock Yard during the Tucson Gem Show in January/February!

Be sure and check back next month and we will discuss the world's largest Gem and Mineral Show in Tucson, Arizona, and all the huge changes that have occurred in the last few years to this amazing show!

Happy hunting!