The Oddities and Curiosities Expo returns to World Market Center on September 19-20, offering taxidermy classes, vintage medical artifacts, and live sideshow acts for fans of the unusual
Taxidermied raccoons, vintage medical tools, and sword-swallowing performers will fill World Market Center as the Oddities and Curiosities Expo returns to Las Vegas for its ninth year. Founded by Michelle and Tony Cozzaglio, the expo has grown from a local event into a national gathering for collectors and fans of the bizarre. It now draws large crowds and a community that thrives on the unconventional. According to a Tulsa media topic page, the expo is the largest national touring convention of its kind, with Michelle and Tony Cozzaglio still leading its expansion.
The event started as a punk-inspired flea market in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has since become a full-scale expo that tours the country. Michelle Cozzaglio, who calls herself a lifelong "weird kid," wanted to create a space where alternative subcultures could connect over their shared interest in the macabre. The result is an event that mixes the energy of punk, hardcore, metal, and goth scenes with the work of taxidermists, entomologists, and artists who specialize in the unusual. The expo continues to travel to multiple cities through September 2026, making it a recurring national event rather than a one-off Las Vegas show.
What to expect at World Market Center
The Las Vegas stop on September 19-20 will take over the World Market Center Las Vegas at 475 S Grand Central Pkwy, North Hall, with hundreds of vendors and artists from across the country, as confirmed by local listings. Attendees can catch sideshow performances every half hour, including acts like sword swallowing, glass walking, and classic circus stunts. The expo’s theatrical side is a nod to old circus sideshows, with magic and juggling acts sometimes added to the mix. According to an event listing, the convention is large, with "hundreds of vendors and artists" and a packed schedule of live entertainment both days.
For those who want to do more than browse, the expo offers hands-on workshops led by Sleeping Sirens, a taxidermy group founded by Heather Clark. Saturday features a raccoon taxidermy class, and Sunday offers entomology sessions on creating habitats for sunset moths or scorpions. These classes are open to both beginners and experienced collectors and give attendees a chance to learn directly from experts.
Community and culture at the expo
The Oddities and Curiosities Expo is a gathering place for self-described "weirdos," but it also attracts a mix of artists, collectors, and the simply curious. The founders have made a point of bringing the expo to cities that don’t always get national attention. Michelle Cozzaglio says it feels meaningful to build community in places without established alternative scenes: "It’s more special to me to be able to bring our creation to a smaller place. That just feels really meaningful," she says.
Visitors often leave with unexpected finds—preserved specimens, antiques, or unique artwork—even if they only came to look. The expo’s mix of commerce, performance, and community has made it a regular stop for fans of the unusual. The Las Vegas edition stands out for its timing at the start of the city’s busy fall event season, offering a lead-in to Halloween and other autumn festivities.
Tickets and visitor information
The Oddities and Curiosities Expo runs September 19-20 at World Market Center, with doors opening at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $16, and as of September 14, 2026, ticket listings are still available, according to a Vivid Seats event listing. The event’s price and central location make it accessible for both locals and visitors looking for something outside the usual entertainment lineup.
Las Vegas continues to draw unconventional concepts and niche events, as seen with recent retail expansions reported earlier. The Oddities and Curiosities Expo’s return shows that the city’s appetite for the offbeat is strong, and that alternative culture has a place alongside the Strip’s more traditional attractions. For anyone looking for a different kind of Las Vegas experience, this expo offers a mix of spectacle, education, and community that’s hard to find elsewhere.
