“We dug for treasure, raced Hot Wheels, saw swords!”

An enthusiastic dad, talking to his sons, nicely summed up a unique event at the Mineola Civic Center Saturday.

The center was packed for the event, which was appropriately titled “The East TX Treasure Show.” Metal detecting and genealogy clubs from all across East Texas, including Longview, Henderson, Tyler and, of course, Wood County “all pitched in” to make the event happen.

According to organizers, the main goal was to “bring people together and show them what we found in these counties.”

They also wanted to give kids an interesting, hands-on activity to experience.

“Local clubs got together and decided to do this, just to kind of get people in the community (to be) aware of what we do,” said Brandon Ellerbee, a member of the Wood County Metal Detecting Club.

The five clubs involved did increase awareness through the event; according to the welcoming table, around 150 people attended the treasure show.

Some of the club members in attendance have been doing metal detecting, or “treasure hunting,” for decades.

“He eats, sleeps, breathes metal detecting,” said Lisa Stegall of her husband, Bob, who is a member of the Rusk County Treasure Hunters Association. “He’s been doing it for a long time. He loves it.”

The East TX Treasure Show even featured some professional detectorists such as Gypsy Jewels, who has been in the trade for 26 years.

“I do metal detecting, treasure hunting,” she explained. “I’ve found everything from Civil War to World War Two to Red War…coins, jewelry, you name it.”

In fact, Gypsy is so dedicated to her trade that’s she’s written a book, which is titled “Just Digging It: A Beginner’s Guide To Metal Detecting,” and she also has her own YouTube channel.

From antique bullets to kids’ treasure digs to prizes, Civil War knives, guns, swords, colonial memorabilia and even expensive modern jewelry, the East TX Treasure Show brought it all to the table.

If you missed it this year, don’t worry – according to Jerry Tinney, who many regarded as having brought the event together, the East TX Treasure Show will be an annual event.

Next year, it will be held in Smith County.