Discovery tour at the Munich Show: The programme for families and children

The best of both worlds: The Munich Show/Gemworld is not only a trade fair for gemstones, jewellery and minerals, but also opens up its rich spectrum of topics and areas of interest to an audience of visitors - including families with children. We provide insights into the educational and creative programme.

Left: Impressions from the children's programme of the Munich Show in 2024 © The Munich Show

Families welcome

The Munich Show and Gemworld, or Mineralientage, will take place in Munich from 23 to 26 October. The trade fair has a lot to offer trade visitors - including minerals, cut and uncut gemstones, which serve goldsmiths and designers as raw material for their creative work, as well as finished jewellery for their own purchases.

But there is also plenty on offer for private visitors during the fair: Saturday and Sunday, i.e. 25 and 26 October, are open to all interested parties and fans of jewellery, minerals and fossils.

The opening hours of the Munich Show

• Thursday, 23 October | 09:00 - 18:00 | for registered trade visitors only
• Friday, 24 October | 09:00 - 18:00 | for registered trade visitors only
• Saturday, 25 October | 09:00 - 18:00 | Trade visitors & general public
• Sunday, 26 October | 09:00 - 18:00 | Trade visitors & general public

The exciting programme for children and young people

Munich Sow offers children and young people the unique opportunity to experience at first hand how nature and time interact to create special treasures that have shaped cultures and societies around the world for thousands of years.

The trade fair is not only an important trading platform for the jewellery and gemstone industry, goldsmiths, jewellers and retailers, but has also always been a place of knowledge transfer and enthusiasm for the treasures of our planet. On the weekend of the 25th and 26th, young explorers will have the opportunity to go on an exciting discovery tour. The offer also applies to school classes during the trade visitor days on 23 and 24 October. In numerous hands-on activities, children and young people can become active themselves and learn that science and natural research can be really fun.

In fascinating presentations, experts provide insights into the fascinating world of minerals, fossils, meteorites and gemstones.

This year, children, young people and families can wash gold, cut gemstones, take part in the geo rally, crack geodes, carve soapstone, sieve shark teeth, take part in the dino-tooth quiz, sieve gemstones or master the meteorite course.

All hands-on activities at the Munich Show at a glance

Gold panning adventure for little treasure hunters: Stand A4.200, free of charge, duration: 15 minutes

At the Munich Show, experienced gold prospectors show step by step how it works. With a real gold panning pan and a bit of luck, young and old treasure hunters will even discover a real grain of gold - a hands-on experience with real memorable value!

Meteorite course, stand A4.215, free of charge, duration: 15 minutes

The meteorite park takes children and young people into the far reaches of the universe. Over 4,000 years ago, the iron meteorite "Campo del Cielo" fell to earth in Argentina. "Campo del Cielo" means "field of the sky".

Remains of the "Campo del Cielo" weighing tonnes can still be found today in the craters left behind by its impact on the earth. At the Munich Show, children can become real sky explorers and find meteorite fragments from the "Field of the Sky". Equipped with metal detectors, with a little patience and an inquiring mind, they will come across the meteorite fragments hidden in the sand.

The search is rewarded: every diligent finder is allowed to take their finds from outer space home with them.

Make your own sparkling treasures: Cutting gemstones, stand A4.328, 3 euros per stone, recommended from 3 to 4 years, duration: 15 minutes

A favourite stone can be chosen from a large selection of gemstones - such as lapis lazuli, rose quartz, green opal or rock crystal. Each child decides for themselves how to make their favourite stone shine. Whether by hand, with grinding sponges or on the polishing machine. A shiny memento and a little treasure to take home!

The geo rally: questionnaires available at the East Entrance and stand A4.210, free of charge, recommended from 6 years, duration: 45 minutes

The geo-rally guides young visitors through the exhibition in a fun way. Age-appropriate questionnaires (for 6-8 years, 9-13 years and from 14 years) are available at the East Entrance.

The answers to the questions can be found at various stands within the exhibition centre. The children explore the Munich site in a playful and mysterious way. On the discovery tour, there are lots of interesting facts to learn about minerals, fossils, meteorites and gemstones.

Those who hand in their questionnaire at the end and answer all the questions correctly will be entered into a prize draw for attractive non-cash prizes. Our geo rally combines knowledge transfer with exciting discovery and is ideal for school classes, families and young trade fair visitors.

Discover crystal treasures while cracking geodes: Stand A4.214, costs depend on size and weight; duration: until the other children want to have a go too

At the Munich Show, children and young people can experience the fascinating connection between nature and time - which becomes impressively visible during geode cracking.

In geology, a geode is a roundish rock cavity with a solid outer shell. If crystals form inside over millions of years, this is referred to as a druse.

Every year, the team of "geode crackers" brings numerous small and large, still closed geodes to the fair. Each child is allowed to choose a geode for themselves. After being weighed (the weight determines the price), it is professionally clamped and opened.

Experienced supervisors at the stand explain which minerals and crystals can be seen in the opened geode - an exciting moment that combines science and amazement in a special way.

Soapstone carving: Stand A4.100, cost: approx. 5 euros, recommended from 5 years, duration: approx. 30-60 minutes

Soapstone is the softest known rock on earth. Its smooth, mild surface and easy workability make it ideal for creative beginners in sculpture.
The rough stone can be rasped, cut and polished with little effort. Individual small works of art are created, inspired by the different colours and natural shapes of the material. The intuitive approach encourages creativity and teaches creative work with natural stone in a playful way.
There are various pre-moulded models to choose from at the Munich Show. However, anyone who wants to can also design their own. At the end, the finished workpiece can of course be taken home - as a souvenir of a special trade fair experience.

Seven shark teeth: Stand A4.321, free of charge, duration: until the other children want a turn too

Sharks have a so-called revolver bite, in which new rows of teeth constantly grow back. They therefore lose thousands of teeth in the course of their lives. Many of these have fossilised over millions of years.

For this reason, fossilised shark teeth are found relatively frequently. At the Munich Show, children can go on a search themselves: With a shovel and sieve in the large sandpit, they can playfully try out how exciting palaeontological discoveries can be. A little adventure for young fossil researchers.

Sifting gemstones - treasure hunt in the sand: Stand A4.321 free of charge, duration: until the other children want to have a go too

Numerous little treasures are waiting to be discovered in the large sandpit. Using a sieve and shovel, young visitors can sift through the sand mountains layer by layer to find hidden surprises.

Splitting fossils: Stand A4.311,price per kilo, duration: approx. 30 minutes

The past comes alive when fossils are split: Special slabs of calcareous shale often contain fossilised remains of marine animals, such as ammonites, crinoids or shells.

Equipped with a hammer and chisel, children and young people can lend a hand and carefully split open the slabs. The moment when an imprint of a million-year-old creature is revealed is often full of amazement.

The activity is supervised by expert staff who explain how to work safely and purposefully, but are also happy to answer questions about fossils and their formation.

You can find more information about the trade fair and other programme items at www.munichshow.com