The 38th annual Rocktoberfest, hosted by the Marysville Rock and Gem Club this weekend, has rocks from all over the world for kids to enjoy. But kids will not leave empty-handed: There are also kid games and door prizes every 30 minutes.
Rocktoberfest offers entertainment for adults as well with lots of dealers showcasing polished cabochons, minerals, fossils, jewelry, beads, gems and lapidary equipment.
Jewelrymakers will also be there, such as bead artist Gracie Wiggs, who still puts together beautiful beadwork at 96.
Wiggs has been an active member of the Marysville Rock and Gem Club for 10 years. Her love of rocks started when she was a child scouring beaches during family picnics.
Later she became an accomplished silversmith, working and fashioning the silver while her husband, Joe, did stone work.
Together, they made rings, pins, bolos and pendants using some of their favorite rocks, such as Montana agate and turquoise.
Just eight years ago, Wiggs picked up a needle and started beading again.
“This is the talent she is best known for among the rock club communities. Her work is outstanding,” member Dottie Haage said. “The use of intricate patterns and beads, designing the colors around many of the cabochons her husband had made all those years ago is truly artistic.”
The rock show will include club displays and demonstrators, a silent auction, food service and two raffles; one of this year’s raffle items will be a 27-by-14-by-8-inch Brazilian amethyst geode (cathedral).
Rocktoberfest runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Totem Middle School, 1605 Seventh St., NE, Marysville.
Admission is free.
For more information, go to sites.google.com/site/marysvillerockngemclub.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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