Fossicking fun returns for Gemfest

THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend Lismore Gemfest when the annual event returns to the showground for its 34th year on May 16-17.

The event will be hosted by the Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club.

The festival will feature 140 stallholders offering everything from crystals and fossils to handmade jewellery and lapidary equipment.

“It’s one of the biggest in Australia for lapidary and gem shows,” event organiser Jenny Vryenhoek said.

“You can spend very little or a lot. There’s everything from a kid’s lucky dip through to very expensive gems and jewellery.”

“We’ve got stallholders from all over the state and over the years we’ve even had some come from overseas.”

Demand for stalls remains high, with organisers often maintaining a waiting list due to limited space at the venue.

Alongside the extensive range of stalls, families can once again enjoy fossicking on the hill, where children can search for small gems, while a colouring competition for primary-aged students will also return.

Entries from the competition will be displayed in the festival’s Fine Arts Pavilion, with prizes awarded across several age groups.

Lapidary demonstrations will also be held throughout the weekend, while visitors interested in joining the local gem and lapidary club can collect membership forms from the information area.

New to this year’s festival is a climbing wall attraction for children and adults.

“We thought it would be another activity the kids might enjoy participating in,” Vryenhoek said.

“It’s a big job, the committee is the core of the organisation, and it involves distributing jobs and making decisions in what’s best for the event.”

A free shuttle bus will run in a loop between the Lismore Transit Centre and Alexandra Parade during the event.