If you’re a rockhound, and have an insatiable love for digging through dirt, finding jasper, agates and thundereggs, here are two great events for you:
1. The Prineville Rock Hound Powwow
Held at Central Oregon’s Prineville, this is a wildly popular event for armature geologists and those fond of one-of-a-kind rock specimens. The summer event is held at the Crook County Fairgrounds where folks gather to showcase their finds and sell equipment and jewelry. Three field trips are organized and take visitors out to the hills for a little guided search for nifty geological finds. And there’s even an evening auction, which claims to be Oregon’s premier rock and gem show.
2. The Nyssa Thunderegg Days & Festival
This event is all about one very special rock…the thunderegg. Oregon’s state rock, thundereggs are spherical masses of rock that are nondescript and knobby on the outside, but full of colorful and exquisite designs inside. The festival is a family-friendly event complete with a car show, kid’s activities, a quilt show, live music and more. Of course, gem vendors and local artists are on site, as well as many rock aficionados.