Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association
35th M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky, Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show
June 12th - 14th, 2026
Swannanoa, North Carolina

Photos by: Richard Jacquot

Another great show has come and gone and we are already planning for our fall event! Many new vendors will be joining us in September with the best from the mineral world.

This show is dedicated to the memory of an original M.A.G.M.A. Gem Show vendor from years ago. He never missed a show and loved being there with us and sharing his knowledge of the gems and minerals he offered. Keith Thompson was a great friend, and he will be missed.

My week starts early for these shows. Along with my friends, Stephen and Santana, we start setting up the building layout, placing signage, parking lot perimeter, etc. What is three days for many, is a week long process for us.

Our first visitor of the week was Smokey the Bear. He had read the dates wrong and arrived a little early. I told him to come back between Friday and Sunday to receive free food from our generous vendors, many who camp on site. 8^)

I brought some fine, rare pieces from the Conybear collection to offer to the serious collectors. I will have a lot more of this USA material available at our September show.

Our new American Rockhound 250th Anniversary shirts were a big hit! I will be ordering more for the September show and will be adding more colors as well.

I assembled a small part of my meteorite and tektite collection for the educational display. The bulk of my collection came from the family of Lincoln La Paz. La Paz was the Godfather in the study of Meteors, Meteorites and Trinitite!

Friday early morning.

First Rockhounds of the weekend.

Luther having fun. 8^)

Sean Price. Sean told me he is the Indiana Jones of young geologists! He is also a master of bad jokes and wiseass comments...Oh, and he owns the Rose Creek Mine and has some cool rocks for sale...8^)

Santana modeling the American Rockhound 250 T-shirt.

Santana and Stephen are awesome jewelers. Stephen does top quality silver smithing and cuts all his stones that are made into jewelry. Santana is a skilled wire wrapper and they offer some killer handmade pieces.

Alex with some of the most interesting things made from rocks, including but not limited too, rock pickles......

Brian and Joey

A cool crystal cluster that Joey had for sale.

Logan, looking serious as the competition was heating up with Amanda to see who could make the most sales. Amanda was at a different show trying to compete...8^)

Reddeer

Bruce Camaniti and his daughter.

Brenton

Mark and Carol and their jewelry.

Bryan and Randy

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