2027 public shows: compare your options
| Show | Published dates | Venue | Public admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® | February 11–14 | Tucson Convention Center | $15; ages 14 and under free with a paying adult |
| Tucson Gem Show on 22nd Street | January 28–February 14 | 993 S. Freeway | Organizer advertises free tickets; check parking separately |
| Colors of the Stone / To Bead True Blue | January 30–February 6 | Casino Del Sol | Free admission and parking; workshops have separate registration and fees |
| JOGS Tucson Winter Show | January 27–February 7 | Tucson Expo Center | $25 plus fees for general admission; no children under 12 |
On a phone, swipe the comparison table sideways. These are selected options, not the complete citywide calendar. A ticket or badge for one event does not establish access to another.
Updated October 30, 2026. This guide covers the winter 2027 show season. Times are local Arizona time. Dates and entry details below are published by the linked organizers; check them again before leaving. The thumbnail is an illustrative image, not a photograph documenting a particular show.
You hear “the Tucson gem show” and picture one building, one ticket and a few pretty rocks. Then you start looking at the calendar. Different venues. Different opening days. Public admission at one show, buyer credentials at another. Suddenly, choosing an afternoon out feels like a research project.
Here is where I would start: choose the kind of visit you want, then pick a show that actually fits. Maybe you want to browse crystals with visiting friends. Maybe someone in your family makes jewelry. Maybe the kids are more interested in fossils than shopping. Those are all good starting points. Trying to see everything is a much harder one.
One showcase, many separate shows
Visit Tucson lists the main winter showcase window as January 27 through February 14, 2027. Think of that as the season's planning window, rather than a shared schedule for every venue. Individual events open and close on their own dates.
Use Visit Tucson's show directory to explore beyond this shortlist. Then open the organizer's own page for the event you choose. Confirm the year, address, admission category and daily closing time before arranging the rest of your day.
That extra check is especially useful if someone sends you an old social post. A familiar show name does not mean last year's dates, parking price or entry policy still applies.
The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show: a clear starting point
February 11–14, 2027 | Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue. The society's 72nd annual show has the theme “Minerals as Art - The Art of Minerals.” It is open to the public, with retail dealers and educational exhibits.
Published hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday. Alongside the standard admission in the table, the organizer lists a $26 two-day ticket and a $2 military and senior discount on Friday, February 12, with conditions on combining discounts. Follow the current ticket instructions rather than assuming a ticket is sold directly by the society.
My recommendation for a first visit is to give yourself permission to look before you buy. Pick a few displays that catch your attention, ask questions when exhibitors are available, and leave time for the things you did not know you wanted to see.
Official show dates, tickets and visitor information
The 22nd Street show: a longer browsing window
January 28–February 14, 2027 | 993 S. Freeway, Tucson. The organizer publishes hours of 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, advertises free tickets and provides a 2027 floor map. Use its current page for directions and entry instructions.
The longer date range makes this an option to compare when your visitors arrive before the convention-center show opens. It also lets you build the outing around your own schedule rather than assuming every show happens on the final weekend.
Before driving over, separate admission from parking in your plan. A free ticket does not tell you what a nearby lot charges or which entrance is best for your group. Save the venue pin, look at the floor map, and decide where you will meet if people browse at different speeds.
Official 22nd Street dates, directions and floor map
Colors of the Stone: an option for makers
January 30–February 6, 2027 | Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road. Colors of the Stone with To Bead True Blue combines artisan work, jewelry-making materials and workshops. The organizer welcomes the public and lists free admission and parking.
One detail needs a second look: the published date range starts January 30, but the hours line specifies 10 a.m.–6 p.m. January 31–February 5, then 10 a.m.–5 p.m. February 6. Confirm January 30 opening hours directly before planning an opening-day visit.
Workshop seats are a separate decision from general admission. Check the instructor, skill level, class time, fee and materials requirements before signing up. If you are visiting with someone who wants to take a class, work out whether the rest of your group wants to browse for that long or meet afterward.
Official winter-show information and workshop links
JOGS: public entry with different rules
January 27–February 7, 2027 | Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Road. JOGS publishes 10 a.m.–6 p.m. hours, closing at 4 p.m. on the final day.
The winter FAQ lists the general-admission ticket as valid for the 12-day show. Qualified industry buyers use a separate registration route. Public visitors can shop, but public entry does not guarantee wholesale pricing. The organizer's minimum-age rule in the table matters when choosing a family outing.
The FAQ also identifies accessible parking near the West Hall entrance and wheelchairs subject to availability. Contact the organizer about the specific assistance your group needs. Do not build the day around equipment being available without confirming it.
Official JOGS schedule · Public tickets, age rules and access information
Public access and wholesale access are different things
A show can welcome retail visitors and still reserve particular prices or buying privileges for qualified businesses. A trade-only listing is a different situation again. Check the event's current qualifications before registering, and do not assume that owning an unrelated business guarantees entry.
If you are coming for a casual day out, begin with a show that clearly welcomes the public. There is plenty to compare without making an uncertain credential application the centerpiece of your visit. If you are buying for a business, review the organizer's requirements ahead of time and bring the documents it actually requests.
Three ways to plan a first visit
1. A family afternoon
Start with a public event whose age policy fits everyone coming. Set a small souvenir budget before entering, choose a manageable amount of browsing, and leave room for a snack or a break. “Find one thing you want to learn about” can be a better mission than trying to walk every aisle.
2. A day with visiting friends
Choose one main venue and one optional second stop, only after checking that both are open that day. Share the actual addresses and agree on a meeting time. People who love jewelry, fossils and rough rock may wander in different directions. That is easier to enjoy when nobody has to keep the entire group together every minute.
3. A focused shopping visit
Write down what you want, your spending limit and any size or material requirements. Ask the seller about identification, treatments where relevant, condition, returns and shipping before paying. Keep the receipt and seller's contact information. A purchase should still make sense after the excitement of finding it wears off.
Parking, walking and the practical part
Plan for the whole visit, including the route from your vehicle to the entrance. Ask about surfaces, seating, restrooms and drop-off arrangements if mobility or stamina affects your group. A venue address alone does not answer those questions, particularly when an event uses more than one area.
Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and check the forecast for the hours you will actually be outside. Use current organizer directions for parking. If you plan to use a shuttle or rideshare discount, verify the dated route or offer first; transportation programs can differ between shows and years.
Ask before photographing a display or handling a specimen. Before buying something bulky, decide how it will get home. Carrying a heavy rock through the rest of an outing is a planning choice you may regret surprisingly quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need one ticket for all the Tucson gem shows?
No. Treat each event as a separate visit with its own admission and registration rules. Check the organizer for the particular show you want.
Which show would you choose for a first visit?
My starting recommendation is the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show for its combination of shopping and educational exhibits. If your dates are earlier, compare 22nd Street. For someone interested in making jewelry, look at Colors of the Stone's exhibitors and workshops.
Is every show suitable for young children?
No. Confirm the age policy before committing. Choose the visit around your group, then check walking, restrooms and breaks as well as admission.
Make the gem shows part of getting to know Tucson
An annual event is one enjoyable part of imagining life in a new place. It can also give visiting friends a reason to come back. Pair the show you choose with time to notice the everyday things around it: the drive, the setting and the places you would use between special occasions.
Find more outings in Greater Tucson Events & Seasonal Guides. If you are exploring a move, start with the Seattle-to-Tucson relocation guide or request a conversation with Jason Fox. We can connect the enjoyable parts of a visit with the practical decisions behind your next home.
