MADRID – Young rockhounds and gem lovers will get a chance to hunt for and take home some naturally glowing rocks tonight as the St. Lawrence County Rock & Mineral Club’s 44th Annual Gem & Mineral Show & Swap kicks off the weekend of events running until Sunday at its new location, Madrid’s Municipal Park and Community Center.

A fluorescent mineral hunt for kids will take place after dark on Friday evening, Aug. 20. Kids, age 11 or less, will be able to borrow a portable black light to search for samples of fluorescent minerals. They will be able to keep some of the minerals they find. There is no charge for this activity.

The weekend show offers something for everyone: handcrafted jewelry made with semi-precious stones for the jewelry lover, gemstone beads, jewelry making supplies, and free lessons for the crafter, museum quality crystals, fossils, and mineral specimens for the nature lover and art collector, handcrafted gift items, tumbled stones and grab bags for the kids.

There will also be mineral collecting trips at some of St. Lawrence County's famous rock-hunting sites for the serious or novice rockhound, fun and fellowship for rockhounds from all over the Northeast, and a different type of shopping experience for the general public.

Tickets will be sold for a chance to win a large Brazilian amethyst cathedral. The winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday afternoon.

The food concession will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be an auction of donated mineral specimens Saturday evening.

Anyone interested in camping, swapping and/or selling gems, jewelry, rocks, minerals, fossils, etc., may reserve a space for $15 per day. Tailgating is $10 per day. Collecting at the nearby Power's Farm, famous location for black tourmaline crystals, is $5 per day. There is no charge for the public to attend the show.

For more information, check the club’s website at StLawrenceCountyMineralClub.org. Or contact Bill DeLorraine at 287-4652 and mail wdellie@verizon.net.