Big Horn Basin Rock Show this weekend in Powell

The Big Horn Basin Rock Show will take place this weekend in Powell, scheduled at the Park County Fairgrounds Friday and Saturday, May 29-30, featuring demonstrations by area artisans and a variety of rocks, semi-precious stones, jewelry, minerals and fossils. Activities are available for children, as well. 

This year’s vendors will bring Wyoming jade, opals, rock slabs, jewelry, crystals, stone beads, fossils, mineral specimens and more. 

The fifth annual show will be held in the Heart Mountain Building at the Park County Fairgrounds 1-7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under get in free.

“This year’s show will have something for everyone who enjoys rocks, minerals and fossils,” said Shoshone Rock Club President Ilene Olson. “Nature does some amazing things. Something that looks colorless and boring on the outside can have beautiful colors and intricate designs inside.” 

Demonstrating artisans include Dan Dalton of Powell with flint knapping, “Lapidary Gary” Olson of Powell with cabochon making for jewelry, Luke Rudolph of Montana with stone carving and T. Rex Mike with presentations about T. Rex dinosaurs.

Education features include an ultraviolet rock and mineral display, rock identification by Doc Ellis and displays by Wild West Dino Den (Greybull’s new dinosaur museum), Washakie Museum of Worland and the Draper Museum of Cody. Larry Oliveras of the Draper Museum will also do fossil identification. Park County Library will have information and coloring pages about fossils for kids.

In the children’s activity room, kids can paint rocks, search for hidden treasures in sand, and start a rock scavenger hunt.

The show is hosted jointly by the Shoshone Rock Club of Powell and the Cody 59ers Rock Club. 

“The rock show offers our community a chance to explore the geologic wonders of our region, meet the experts and take home a treasure or two,” said Cody 59ers President Greg Jones.

When hunger interrupts the fun, show-goers can head outside, where the Sons of the Legion will be selling burgers and brats on both days.