3-4:  AITKIN, MN.  Cuyuna Rock, Gem, and Mineral Club 6TH Annual Agate & Mineral Show, at a NEW LOCATION - Aitkin High School, 306 2nd St NW (Hwy 210, 3 blocks west of Hwy 169.)  Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4.  Our show has just expanded to Two Big Days, Rain or Shine!!  BUY - TRADE - SELL!  50 dealers offering minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry, books, beads, cabs, slabs, rough rock, and lapidary equipment, exhibits, Kids Corner (where Kids can dig for agate and a shark's teeth - FREE), demonstrations, fluorescent displays, hourly door prizes, FREE mineral identification, great concessions!  There are plenty of inside AND outside spaces.  We're very excited about extending our show to two days and having the Aitkin High School to grow into.  Set up available Friday night.  Admissions: FREE.  CONTACTS: Kat Thomas, (218) 678-3298, katmoose@emily.net, or Mavis McGuire, (218) 927-3804, mmwt564b@emily.net.  

3-4:  Cincinnati, OH.  CINCINNATI Geofair 2008, the 43rd annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil, & Jewelry Show of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Gardens, 2250 Seymour Avenue.  Sat. 10:00-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:00.  This huge show is a combined effort of the Cincinnati Mineral Society and another club.  The 2008 theme is "American Fossil Treasures and American Mineral Treasures."  56 dealers (retail and wholesale), 4 educational earth science programs, 70 gem, mineral, fossil, and jewelry exhibits from museum, university, and private collections, family activities, swap area, free fossil or mineral collection for kids under 12.  Admission: Adults $7, 2-day pass $10, Children $2, Scouts in uniform free.  For more information, visit the GeoFair web site at www.geofair.com.  CONTACT: Jim & Judy Budnik, (513) 575-1990, wisoh@msn.com. 

3-4:  MARSHFIELD, WI.  Heart of Wisconsin Gem & Mineral Society 35TH ANNUAL ROCK, GEM, & JEWELRY SHOW, Marshfield High School Field House, 1401 Becker Road.  Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4.  13 dealers offering rocks, fossils, minerals, and jewelry.  Displays of crystals, beautiful agates, and thunder eggs.  Demonstrations of faceting, lapidary, flint knapping, wire-wrapping, and metal detecting.  Our show theme is “Dinosaurs”, with a special exhibit by Jack Neuzil of Cedar Rapids, IA, of his wooden dinosaur models.  At 1:00 pm each day, Bill Desmarais will give a slide presentation titled "Track 'em Down and Dig 'em Up."  And on Sat. at 2:30 pm, Dr. Gene LaBerge will present "Diamonds of Namibia."  For kids, there will be a life size theropod trackway (that they can walk on,) used to show how the size of a dinosaur can be estimated from its tracks.  Also for kids, fossil tiles that they can prepare.  Admissions: FREE; donations are accepted for our scholarship fund.  CONTACT: Cynthia Kelman, (715) 387-8782, kelman@tznet.com.  

17-18:  Berea (Cleveland), OH.  Parma Lapidary Club 40th Annual Cleveland Area Gem & Mineral Show, Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 164 Eastland Road (use Bagley Road entrance.)  Sat. 10:00-7:00, Sun. 11:00-5:00.  26 dealers, demonstrations, kids corner and kid’s treasure dig.  Admission: Adults $5, FREE to Kids 12 or under (with an adult) or Scouts in uniform.  Find more information at the club web site: www.parmalapidary.com.  Contact: John Zaborowski (440) 949-8242, jjzabor@roadrunner.com

16-18:  SOUTHGATE, MI.  2008 SOUTHEASTERN MichigaN Gem and Mineral SHOW, hosted by the Midwest Mineralogical & Lapidary Society, at the Southgate Arena, 14700 Reaume Parkway.  Fri. 4-8, Sat. 10-6., Sun. 11-5.  This year’s theme is “Michigan Rocks.”  20 dealers, 15+ educational demonstrations, special exhibits by A. A. Seaman Mineral Museum, Wayne State University, the Cranbrook Institute of Science, and the Detroit Salt Company.  For kids, the very poplar and FREE “Minerals for Minors”, where kids get to pick from 20 different kinds minerals, and start their own mineral collection!  Also for kids, there are grab bags, and a “Gold Mine”, where mine cars go into the mine and return with gold-laced sand.  The kids sift out the gold and keep what they find!  There are hourly door prizes, and a food concession.  Admission: Adult $4, Senior Citizens $3, Teens (13-17) $1, Kids (under 13) FREE!  CONTACT: Norm Hanschu, 6607 Sturbridge Lane, Canton, MI  48187, (734) 455-8596, nwhanschu@prodigy.net, or Mike Bomba, (313) 381-8455. 

17-18:  Wauwatosa, WI.  Wisconsin Geological Society 51ST ANNUAL GEM , MINERAL, & FOSSIL SHOW, Muellner Building in Hart Park, 7300 W. Chestnut Street.  (The Hart Park entrance is at 72nd & W. State Streets.)  Sat. & Sun. 10:00-5:00.  Theme: “Rocks at Work.”  20 dealers from all over the Midwest selling lapidary supplies, tools, books, rough material, slabs, finished specimens, cabochons, jewelry, carvings, fossils, and more.  Special exhibit on use of Wisconsin rocks in construction, industry, and our daily lives.  Special guest Joseph J. "PaleoJoe" Kchodl, noted paleontologist, author, and lecturer, will be exhibiting, selling his books, and giving a free presentation each afternoon at 2:30 pm.  Admission: Adults $3, 2 for $5.00, accompanied Children under 16 FREE.  Contact: Paul Schmidt, 8213 Red Arrow Court, Wauwatosa, WI  53213, (414) 771-8668, pvs@wi.rr.com. 

24-25:  WHEATON, IL.  Chicagoland Gems and Mineral Association (CGMA) 32ND ANNUAL GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOW, DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road.  Sat. & Sun., 10-6 (Memorial Day Weekend).  This year’s theme: “A Gem of a Show.”  This show is the joint effort of 10 rock clubs, including Calumet Gem & Mineral Society, Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society, Des Plaines Valley Geological Society, Duneland Rock Club, Elgin Rock & Mineral Society, Fox Valley Rock Club, Greater Oak Lawn Diggers, South Suburban Earth Science Club, and West Suburban Lapidary Club.  There will be dealers, demonstrations, children's rock area, educational exhibits, programs, lapidary arts, jewelry exhibits, faceting, cabochon cutting, polishing gemstones, silversmithing, beading, wire wrapping, special youth activities and programs.  Admission: Adults  $5, Students (13-17) $3, Seniors $3, Children (under 13) FREE.  FREE parking.  Go to the show web site, www.chicagolandgemshow.org, for additional information.  CONTACT: John Good, (630) 483-2363, cgma@sbcglobal.net  

5/31-6/1:  Columbus , OH.  Central Ohio Mineral, Fossil, Gem, and Jewelry Show, Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad Street.  PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATES!!  Sat. 10:00-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:00.  Sponsored by the Columbus Rock and Mineral Society, and the Licking County Rock and Mineral Society.  Theme: "The Angry Earth: Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Crashing Continents."  27 quality mineral, fossil, and jewelry dealers, ID booth, swap area, educational/children's area, silent auctions, exhibits, demonstrations, and displays.  Talk by Dr. Mike Barton on the 1783 Laki (Iceland) Volcanic Eruption!  Admission: $7 (2-day pass, $12), Golden Buckeye (Senior) Discount, $3 for Youth 6-16 (under 6 FREE), Scouts and 4-H Members in uniform FREE. Contact: Ken Harsh, (614) 433-9778, karmakenha@aol.com, or Sue Guirl, (614) 262-1484, srguirl@yahoo.com. 

5/31-6/1:  VIROQUA, WI.  Coulee Rock Club 15TH ANNUAL SHOW, Viroqua Jr. High School, 100 Blackhawk Drive.  Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4.  14 dealers will be offering fossils, minerals, jewelry, carved stone, agates, and lapidary equipment (new & used.)  Geode cracking will go on all day, and there will be wire wrapping demonstrations.  Phil Oliver will bring two special exhibits: an exhibit of fabulous banded agates from his private collection; and a Braille Mineral Exhibit, where all labels are in Braille, and the attendees can feel the minerals.  For Kids, the special Kids Table will have grab bags, and special children’s activities.  There will be a silent auction, door prizes (about every 15 minutes!), and food.  Admission: FREE;  donations are accepted.  FREE parking!  CONTACT: Gary Krause, 606 E. Court Street, Viroqua, WI  54665, (608) 632-0973, garyjkrause@yahoo.com.