The annual RockHound RoundUp returns to Deming, New Mexico, March 11 – 14, 2027. The Deming Gem & Mineral Society hosts the four-day gem and mineral show at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, 4100 – 4300 Raymond Reed Blvd.
Rock collectors, fossil fans, and jewelry makers can browse a buyer’s market, watch demonstrations, see displays, and shop for gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary equipment. The 2027 event also includes a metal-detecting contest, auctions, and guided collecting trips.
What to Expect at the RockHound RoundUp
The buyer’s market brings dealers and collectors together at the fairgrounds. Displays and demonstrations give visitors opportunities to learn about rocks, minerals, and lapidary work, while vendors sell specimens, jewelry, equipment, and other rock-related items. Food vendors offer coffee, donuts, breakfast, and lunch.
The event includes two auctions featuring donated materials. The silent auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the live auction at 7 p.m. Saturday. Items typically include slabs, geodes, crystals, gemstones, specimens, and jewelry.
Guided Rock-Collecting Field Trips
Field trips take participants beyond the fairgrounds to collecting areas around Deming. Trips leave at 8 a.m. and may visit Big Diggins, the Deming Gem & Mineral Society’s claim, and other collecting sites. Participants may find onyx, agate, geodes, and other gemstones.
Bring suitable clothing and shoes, lunch, water, and collecting tools. Check the official event information for the final 2027 field-trip schedule and requirements.
Rock collecting has long been associated with the Deming area. Visitors can also learn about the area’s geology at Rockhound State Park and other Deming attractions.
The History of the RockHound RoundUp
The Deming Gem & Mineral Society was founded in January 1965 and soon began organizing a rock show called the Roundup.
The society held the first Roundup in 1966 at Rockhound State Park in the Little Florida Mountains near Deming. According to the society, about 20 dealers displayed their merchandise on picnic tables. The event later moved to the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds and grew to include the activities held there today.
The group continues its work year-round with educational presentations, field trips, and activities related to mineralogy, geology, gem cutting, and lapidary arts.
RockHound RoundUp 2027 Event Information
The 2027 RockHound RoundUp runs Thursday, March 11, through Sunday, March 14, at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, 4200 Raymond Reed Blvd. in Deming. Check the official listing for schedule updates and other details.
Visitors looking for another reason to return to Deming can come back in August for the Great American Duck Race, another annual event held in the city for decades.
RockHound RoundUp FAQs
Is the RockHound RoundUp only for experienced rock collectors?
No. This event includes activities for people with different levels of experience with rocks, minerals, and lapidary work. Visitors can browse specimens and jewelry, watch demonstrations, and view displays without participating in a collecting trip. The Deming Gem & Mineral Society also has an educational mission to promote knowledge of mineralogy, geology, gem cutting, and related earth sciences. People who want hands-on collecting experience can join one of the guided field trips scheduled during the event to learn about local geology.
What do I need to bring on a RockHound RoundUp field trip?
Bring water, lunch, collecting tools, and clothing and footwear suitable for outdoor rock collecting. The official event listing advises participants to bring tools but does not provide a specific equipment list for 2027. Field-trip locations and conditions can vary, so check current information from event organizers before deciding what equipment to take. Trips leave the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds at 8 a.m., so arrive before the scheduled departure and allow enough time to get ready for a full morning outdoors.
Can children attend the RockHound RoundUp?
Yes. Families interested in rocks, minerals, and fossils will find activities for different ages. Past events have included children’s activities such as fossil digs, educational exhibits, and a spinning wheel with prizes. The current 2027 listing does not confirm which of these activities will return. Families can still browse displays and vendors and watch demonstrations together during their visit to the fairgrounds. Check the official event information closer to the date for updates on activities planned specifically for children.
Where is Rockhound State Park in relation to the event?
Rockhound State Park is about 12 miles from downtown Deming in the Little Florida Mountains. The park also has ties to the event’s history: the society held the first Roundup there in 1966. Today, visitors can make the park a separate stop while attending the event at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. The park has three miles of hiking and interpretive trails, wildlife viewing, and a visitor center with exhibits. Camping and picnicking are also available for visitors who want to spend more time there.
Why is Deming known for rock collecting?
Deming is surrounded by areas with a wide variety of rocks and minerals, particularly in the volcanic Little Florida Mountains southeast of the city. Volcanic activity millions of years ago, followed by the movement of hot, mineral-rich fluids through the rocks, helped form many of the specimens found in the area. Rockhound State Park is known for geodes, thundereggs, jasper, onyx, agate, quartz crystals, perlite, and rhyolite. This local geology helps explain why rock collecting has a long history in Deming and why the city became home to the annual RockHound RoundUp.
Posted by LasCruces.com
