If browsing taxidermy, preserved specimens, bones and creepy collectibles sounds like your idea of a good weekend, you’re going to want to make plans for the Oddities & Curiosities Expo.
The wonderfully weird traveling event returns to the Philadelphia area on Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, bringing a massive marketplace of unusual finds and immersive entertainment to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks.
What can you expect at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo? 🎪
The expo brings together hundreds of curated vendors selling the kinds of things you’re unlikely to find at your average shopping event.
- 🦴 Taxidermy and preserved animal specimens
- 🕯️ Funeral collectibles and antiques
- 🎃 Horror and Halloween-inspired artwork
- 🦋 Insects, bones, and handcrafted oddities
- 🔮 Metaphysical items and curiosities
Beyond shopping, attendees can check out tarot readings, sideshow performances, photo opportunities, and concessions throughout the event.
According to organizers, animals used for taxidermy and preserved species are ethically sourced and died of natural causes.
Can you take a class at the expo? 👨🏼🔬
Absolutely. Several ticketed workshops offer a chance to get hands-on with the strange, including taxidermy, entomology, and wet specimen preservation.
The weekend’s classes include an opossum taxidermy class, Ratalope coffin taxidermy, an octopus and tentacle globe wet specimens class, plus Sunset Moth and Scorpion Habitat entomology classes.
Workshop tickets include admission to the expo, with materials and tools provided.
When and where is the expo? 🗺️
- 📆 Date: Saturday, Aug. 15 & Sunday, Aug. 16
- ⏰ Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
- 📍 Location: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks, PA 19456
- 🎟️ Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door
- 👶 Kids 12 and under: Free
Workshops cost extra, ranging from $150 to $325 depending on the class.
The expo’s founder, Michelle and Tony Cozzaglio, say the event was created to give small businesses and artists a place to thrive.
“Our goal is to build a community where people feel safe to be themselves, surrounded by like-minded folks who appreciate the weird and wonderful,” said Michelle.
Tickets are available through the official Oddities & Curiosities Expo website.
