Rockhounds, collectors and anyone interested in lapidary and more flock every year to the “Biggest Small Town Show” to find their newest treasures. In a little western town just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10 is home to the town of a rock hounds paradise since the 1960's, Quartzisite, Arizona. Every year it is home to the biggest small town show reaping more than a million visitors is the Quartzsite show. About 2,000 vendors ranging from rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and everything in-between create one of the world’s largest open air flea markets in little Quartzsite, Arizona. The paradise gives way to many treasures if you are willing to dig and claw your way through tons of boxes, barrels, tubs, tables, and even trucks. There are eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise selling to customers from all walks of life.
A little history on Quartziste, it was settled in 1856 when Charles Tyson built a fort to protect his water supply from attacks by Native Americas. Fort Tyson soon became a stopover on the Ehrenhurg-to-Prescott stagecoach route. It had become known as Tyson’s Wells by the time the stage stopped running and the town then became abandoned.
A small mining boom revitalized the town as Quartzsite in 1897 and it remained until 1965, when the Pow Wow Rock, Gem & Mineral Show began the rockhound winter fever migrations to Quartzsite each year. In these more modern days, the population can swell to almost a million during the January and February rockhound extravaganza.
Here is a list of 2012 Calendar of Events
January 01 - February 28, 2012 Desert Gardens -Gem & Mineral Show
January 06 - January 15, 2012 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
January 07 - January 22, 2012 Main Event
January 20 - January 29, 2012 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama
January 21 - January 29, 2012 Sports, Vacation & RV Show
February 1 -February 5. 2012 Hobby Craft &Gem Show
February 3 - February 12, 2012 Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair
February 4 - February 5, 2012 Rock & Roll Car Show
January 07 - January 22, 2012 Main Event
January 20 - January 29, 2012 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama
January 21 - January 29, 2012 Sports, Vacation & RV Show
February 1 -February 5. 2012 Hobby Craft &Gem Show
February 3 - February 12, 2012 Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair
February 4 - February 5, 2012 Rock & Roll Car Show
