Quartz, Quiltz, and Craftz Festival starts Friday

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    MTIDA1The Quartz, Quiltz and Craftz Festival, featuring the 28th annual World Championship Quartz Crystal Dig starts October 9 and continues through October 11.
    Currently there are 87 diggers from 19 states registered. The entry fee is currently $100 and registration is open until 7 a.m. October 9. The entry fee covers, one person over two days of digging at either of the two participating mines: Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine and Twin Creeks Crystal Mine.
    Registered diggers get to keep all of the crystal they dig during the event. They then enter their best point and best cluster from each day’s digging to compete for $1500 in prizes.
    Winners are announced at the awards banquet on Saturday evening. Registered diggers are provided with meal tickets for the banquet. Members of the public may purchase meal tickets for $10 each.
    Award plaques, adorned with crystals provided by Collier Creek Crystals, are presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each of two categories: points and clusters. 1st thru 5th place winners in each category are also awarded cash prizes as follows: 1st place $250, 2nd place $200, 3rd place $150, 4th place $100, 5th place $50.
    Of special interest this year is the new “Young Miners” division for kids ages 13-17. Three awards will be presented in this division each with crystal adorned award plaques and cash prizes as follows: 1st place $100, 2nd place $50, and 3rd place $25 dollars.
    The festival will alsobring back the popular “Kids’ Dig”. The Kid’s Dig is for childrenKindergarten through six and is sponsored by Dixie Crystal Mining Co., for children ages 3-12.
    The Kids’ Dig will take place Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Kids in this division will not dig in the mines. They will dig in a specially prepared tailings pile seeded with crystals from Twin Creeks Crystal Mine. K-6 graders will compete in two groups K-3rd and 4th-6th. Awards and prizes will be given out. The entry fee for the K-6 division is only $1.
    Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine has been a long time participant in the championship dig, while 2015 marks the second year for Twin Creeks Crystal Mine to participate.
    The World Championship Quartz Crystal Dig is sponsored by the Mount Ida Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information call (870) 867-2723.
    Information for the participating mines are:
    Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine: (870) 867-0104, www.sweetsurrendercrystals.com, www.facebook.com/Sweet-Surrender-Crystal-Mine-57016973722
    Twin Creeks Crystal Mine: (870) 867-4945, http://dixiecrystalco.com, www.facebook.com/twincreekmine.
    The craft show will include crafts from around the area. As of press time there are five indoor spaces available. Vendors can sign up all week.
    For more information regarding the craft show please contact (870) 867-4846.
    The quilt show features quilts made or owned by local residents.Local businesses and officials select their favorite quilts and there will be a people’s choice award.
    For information regarding the quilt show please contact Amy Monk at (870) 867-2311.