Mineral club sponsors fair in Freisen

The Freisen Mineral Club celebrates the 33rd anniversary of its annual mineral fair.

The 2016 fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Bruchwaldhalle, which is the Freisen town hall.

“This extraordinary annual exhibition is a great chance for all friends of minerals and gemstones to admire and discover the fantastic world of minerals, such as petrified wood, agates, amethysts, jasper, rock crystals and other quartzes,” said Wolfgang Diehl, a member of the Freisen Mineral Club. “About 50 exhibitors from several European countries as well as from the local area will be on the spot to display their items on about 100 tables.”

During last year’s fair, about 1,000 visitors took the opportunity to come to the fair.
The mineral club just recently purchased the mineral collection from a former club member. Samples of this collection will be showcased at the fair.

“Another highlight of this year’s fair will be a painting session for children conducted by a painter, who is very well-known within the community of mineral collectors because of his excellent paintings of all kinds of minerals,” Diehl said.

At the end of the painting class, participating children can keep their paintings and will receive a certificate documenting the attendance of the class, which is free.

The club’s own museum, located about 200 meters away from the town hall, will also be open during the fair. In several showcases, minerals collected by club members during the past 33 years can be admired. Entrance to the museum is free of charge.

Like every year, the “Edelsteinkoenigin,” or “Gemstone Queen,” will make an appearance.

Tickets to the mineral fair cost €3 for adults. Children under 14 are free.

Freisen is located about 8 kilometers southwest of Baumholder. To get to Freisen, travel from Landstuhl north on autobahn A62.

Directional signs will be posted, guiding visitors to the fair.
For additional information, visit www.mineralienverein-freisen.de or email wolfgangdiehl@gmx.de.