Finnish gold panners came up with the idea of panning gold as a competition in 1974. The world championship has been held annually since 1977. The first world championship outside Finland took place in 1982 in Heiligenblut am Großglockner, Austria.

Around fifty participants took part in this year's Bavarian championship in Riedenburg. They competed in the categories ladies, men, veterans, traditional, children and teams. In the “Traditional” category, the participants used to wash with a traditional tin bowl.
used in the past. Gold panning is permitted in Germany as long as you stay away from national parks and private land.
private property. You are allowed to keep the gold you find. In principle, you can pan for gold in any river. However, the yield varies considerably. The effort involved is also limited, all you need is a suitable gold panning bowl, a shovel and a lot of patience. Gold panning is a hobby that does not lead to riches.

At the Munich Show, experienced prospectors explain the technique of panning for gold. With a gold panning pan and a bit of luck, diligent prospectors will find a real grain of gold.

Precious stones - so many different types, where do they come from? These precious layers of rock lie dormant everywhere in our earth. Volcanic activity in the earth's interior brings them to the surface. Children are enthusiastic about and interested in stones. What is the name of the stone I have chosen, where does it come from? What does it look like before it is worked? Are they curious about what can be made from it and how do I make it shine? You can choose from a variety of gemstones such as lapis lazuli, rock crystal, green opal, rose quartz and many others - sometimes it's hard to decide!

Our helpers at the stand, experienced mineral collectors and stone cutters, can answer questions and show you how to work the stone. On the polishing machine with the help of the assistants or rather polishing with grinding sponges. The child can decide for themselves. When the stone is shiny, a hole is drilled in it, a ribbon is threaded and the piece of jewelry is proudly hung around the neck! A little “collector” can also expand his collection with the shiny stone!

Discover the fair by answering exciting questions and win great prizes! At the East Entrance you will receive the individual questionnaires tailored to your age (6 to 8 years, 9 to 13 years, 14 years and over).

The answers are hidden at various exhibition stands at the fair. You will be guided through the world of minerals, fossils, meteorites and gemstones. Those who answer all the questions correctly will be entered into a prize draw to win great prizes.

At the Munich Show, children and young people can experience the fascinating interplay between nature and time. What is a geode? In the field of geology and mineralogy, a geode is a roundish cavity formed by a uniform outer layer of rock. If a cavity is formed and crystals form inside, these are known as druses. This process takes millions of years.

Every year, the team of “geode crackers” brings many large and small closed geodes to the Munich Show. Each child is allowed to choose their own geode. Once the weight has been determined - this determines the price - they can get started.
A geode is clamped into a chain and with a loud crack, the stone bubble opens to reveal its sparkling contents.

The children are often surprised at how colorful the crystals are. The experienced staff at the geode stand explain to each child which crystals they will find in “their” geode.

Soapstone is the softest stone we know on earth and feels very supple, mild and soothing. It can be worked quickly and easily without great effort. This makes it easy to take the first steps in sculptural design by rasping, grinding and polishing the rough stones.

The different colors and shapes inspire and invite you to work intuitively. Each stone contains a small work of art that wants to be “liberated”.

At the Munich Show, visitors can choose from various pre-formed models or create their own completely free design. The small works of art can be taken home with you.

Sharks have a lot of teeth due to their revolver bite. This is also the reason why fossil teeth of extinct sharks are found relatively frequently. Take a little time and try your luck - with a shovel and sieve in the large sandpit.