All You Need To Exhibit at Milwaukee Show
All You Need To Exhibit at Milwaukee Show
The Milwaukee Show
AMERICA'S LARGEST SHOW UNDER ONE ROOF
Minerals, Fossils, Crystals, Metaphysical, Art, Gems & Jewelry
August 19-23, 2026
Baird Center | Milwaukee, WI
Welcome to the Milwaukee Mineral, Fossil, Crystal, Gem & Jewelry Show.
This page contains every logistical detail you need for a flawless, profitable show.
Bookmark this page for your reference.
The Venue:
Baird Center.
400 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203.
Vendor Move-In & Setup:
Monday: Noon – 9:00 PM (Only for vendors with 10 booths or more).
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – Midnight (16 full hours of setup time).
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – Noon (All booths must be cleaned up and ready by Noon opening).
Show Dates & Public Hours:
Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Vendor Move-Out:
Sunday: 6:00 PM – Midnight.
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Special Event Parking information will be available by June 15, 2026
Day Time Parking
Daytime parking is $6 - $8 and 24-hour parking is $14 if you follow these instructions and pay in advance.
Most parking lots around the Baird Center are owned by Interstate Parking. To get their best rate you need to register & pay in advance. When you pull up to your chosen parking lot their license plate reader will open the gate for you. There are six lots within one block of the venue and eight more within two blocks. Parking at the Baird Center itself is an outrageous $20 - $32 but only those who don't plan ahead will pay that price. Here's the link to pay just $6 - $8 for daytime parking: Interstate Parking Milwaukee You'll need to zoom in the the Baird Center which straddles Wisconsin Ave (Route 18) and check out availability at each lot. The longer that you delay doing this, the fewer your options. It is much easier to reserve on a larger computer screen than a small cell phone screen.
Overnight Parking
Use the same link to reserve at the 2nd & Plankinton Garage (two blocks southeast from our hotel) which has a rate of $84 for six straight days (144 hours) with unlimited in / out privileges. That equates to $14 for a 24 hour period. Be a good planner and reserve now, else be one of the last-minute folks who will be denied because they are sold out.
RV and Large Vehicle Parking
RV and Oversized Vehicle Parking during the duration of the show is once again available at the RV Parking Lot at the Wisconsin State Fair. The address to this location is: 601 S. 76 th St, Milwaukee, WI 53214. Then you can drive a car to the Baird Center or take an uber.
BOOK YOUR RESERVATION SOON:
There are only 10 Full Nights of Full Service spots available (meaning 20/30/50 amps of power) water, sewer, etc. Cost: $60 per night
There are 18 spots available if no extra services are needed - Cost: $35 per night
When you call to book your reservation, you can confirm where you need to go, but there are
two locations you can drive to get in the RV Park. First is Gate 8 is the closest or you can
enter by 84 th St. There are no “gates that close or lock” so you just drive in. Then go into the
office to get your packet of site information including the map.
To book reservation, call: ALEXIS (or SHANA) at 414-266-7035.
Any further questions, call me and I can assist as well. Thanks.
Don Olstinske
Cell: 312-919-1960
Email: don@milwaukee.show
PLEASE NOTE: Vendors traveling to the show are required to stay at one of our partnered hotels. Our contract with the city-owned Baird Center requires us to prove we brought 850 hotel room-nights to the area; compliance allows us to keep your booth fees incredibly low. (Note: If you are staying with friends, relatives, or live nearby, no hotel stay is required).
Partner Hotels (No Deposit Required to Reserve):
SpringHill Suites Milwaukee Downtown: $179/night (Across the street from the Baird Center).
Country Inn & Suites (Brookfield): $110/night (18 mins away).
BRINKS IS OUR HIGH VALUE SHIPPER
Brinks is our preferred high value carrier. Contact them at showus@brinksinc.com for more information.
GSL IS OUR PREFERRED SHIPPER
Ship your pallets with GSL Forwarding and they’ll place them at your booth on Monday evening so that they are waiting for you on Tuesday morning set-up day. Avoid the Do-It-Yourself hassle of having to jostle for an entry point to unload, find a pallet jack, dodge other vendors blocking aisles and the rest of the usual ordeal!
Pallet rates to the 2026 Milwaukee Show..
$550 per pallet from any state that touches the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean
$500 per pallet from all other states except...
$450 per pallet for any state bordering Wisconsin
Rates are based on a weight of up to 1000 pound per pallet.
Regardless of the number of pallets that you ship, there is an additional $75 Trade Show Fee for the entire shipment. (This goes toward their staff's airfare and hotel costs to be at the show)
But wait there's more!
Rates are lower if shipping more than one pallet. Text or email for a quote which will be based on weight and postal code of the origin.
Text: (248) 302-6257
Email: GSLForwarding@gmail.com
Special Rate from the Milwaukee Show to any Denver Show is $400 per pallet plus $75 show fee for the entire shipment.
Optional Services
$85 = Residential Service Fee if shipping from a home
$85 = Lift-gate Service Fee if shipping origin lacks a loading dock
Optional Supplies
$45 = Shrink Wrap Roll
$25 = Pallet
$25 = Shrink Wrap
$125 = Pallet Container
After the Milwaukee Show, GSL can ship your remaining pallets to Denver, store them, and then have them at your Denver booth on set-up day for $400 / pallet + one $75 Trade Show Fee for the entire shipment.
To ship to the show using GSL Forwarding use this SHIPPING ADDRESS
GSL Forwarding
Att: Milwaukee Gem & Mineral Show
Booth # / Company Name
coming soon
coming soon
To arrange your shipment, email GSL at least 3 WEEKS before you need to ship.
Reach them at GSLForwarding@gmail.com or text: (248) 302-6257
OVERNIGHT LOCK-UP
We will have an 8-foot wide x 8-foot tall x 8-foot deep vault on-site in which you can rent space. We will have 24-hour security provided by AZ Preventive Crime Unit.
SECURITY GUARDS
We will have uniformed, unarmed security officers 24 hours a day beginning with move-in. Our professional security officers are from Arizona Preventive Crime Unit which has provided security services to our shows since 2010.
SHOWCASES BY VU CASE RENTALS
Rent their quarter vision, half vision and full vision counter cases, whether 4-foot, 5-foot or 6-foot long, for $350 + tax. That includes their towers and wall cases!
But you must order before August 3 else the quoted prices increase by $100.
Lighting (Show Off Lighting)
We highly recommend these professional-grade LED light poles. One double light will illuminate two 8-foot tables. Reserve in advance through their website.
We receive NO COMMISSION on these lights and highly recommend them. They are by Show Off Lighting which is synonymous with heavy duty, professional grade LED light poles. They pay for themselves after 4-6 shows by not having to rent lesser grade lighting as well as increased sales from a more attractive booth. These units collapse into little more than 2 feet long and completely wake up your booth. One double light will illuminate two 8-foot tables. There are lots of options to consider, so we'll send you to Show Off Lighting's website for their MILWAUKEE specials. You must reserve in advance!
The State of Wisconsin requires that you obtain a business license to charge sales tax.
The fee is $20 and you can apply online in 15 minutes at: https://tap.revenue.wi.gov/BTR.
The Milwaukee Show
AMERICA'S LARGEST SHOW UNDER ONE ROOF
Minerals, Fossils, Crystals, Metaphysical, Art, Gems & Jewelry
August 19-23, 2026
Baird Center | Milwaukee, WI
© Copyright, 2026. All Rights Reserved.