LIve at 5 on KSL

Just back from Australia with Opals and tons of fun stories the Crystal Festival is returning to Reno this March. The Crystal Festival brings Rocks, Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Jewelry, and artists to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in this FREE and Family Friendly Event! 

“We have a very inclusive, awesome community,” said Adrienne McElwain, the event’s founder. “If you’ve ever had any interest, or your kids have any interest, in rocks or you just think they’re cool and have no idea why, you’re welcome here. It’s a great hobby.”

What makes these festivals so special is the seamless blend of geological expertise and metaphysical energy, offering something for everyone, from serious collectors to spiritual seekers. 

“It started as a trunk show 14 years ago,” said McElwain, explaining how the original idea was to come together as a group of people with a shared interest in rocks, minerals, crystals, fossils, and more, to exchange ideas, show off their art, and learn more from one another.

“This year we spent several weeks mining opals in Australia in January and then led a mining tour around Brazil in June. We will have vases from our trip to Egypt, meteorites that came home with us from our trip to Argentina and Antartica, minerals from Brazil including imperial Topaz and Tourmaline, and so much more.”

There will be numerous educational opportunities, plus a kids’ corner as well. Event organizer Adrienne McElwain and Digital Media Producer Ron Garza joined Loving Living Local host Justin Antweil and Krista Witiak to preview the event.

“There’s a reason admission has always been free and always will be,” Crystal Festival founder Adrienne McElwain said. “It’s all about education and sharing a love for rocks and minerals. No matter why you're into them, you'll find your people here.”

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“We have so many people that come that say, ‘My 9-year-old keeps rocks in a bag and we don’t know what to do.’ We just absolutely love getting those families that have no idea where to start. They don’t know what they’re looking at and they just want help identifying, we’ll sit down, take baggies and label them all for them. We’re happy to do it.”

Learn about the origins of Crystal Festival and how it has evolved over the years into the exciting festival it is today.

Find out where Crystal Festival takes place and how to get there. We've got all the information you need to plan your visit.