Oddities & Curiosities Expo Returns To Grand Rapids In July

If you're a fan of rather strange things, one of Grand Rapids' biggest conventions (31,000 people are "Interested' on Facebook) is returning to intrigue and confuse visitors from all over the state. The Oddities and Curiosities Expo will return to Grand Rapids on July 27th and 28th for a weekend of, well, oddities and curiosities.

What Is It?

While "Curiosities" and "Oddities" are kind of vague, it's a rather accurate description. Per the events page listing on Facebook, the showcase features

hand selected vendors, dealers, artists, and small businesses with all things weird.

This includes taxidermists, preserved specimens, artwork, antiques, jewelry, skulls/bones, and generally weird offerings. What do I mean by weird offerings? Well, if you've ever wanted to learn how to taxidermy a rat, there will be a class for that. The whole expo is truly one of the most unique collections of people and items you'll ever find in the same room.

From personal experience, I attended this expo on a total whim last year with some friends and when I say I couldn't believe some of the things I'd seen, I really, couldn't believe some of it. There was a vendor that had a licensed phlebotomist that would take your blood and make art from it. There was also a huge taxidermied giraffe, which sounds suspicious, but the Expo makes sure everything is legally obtained.

Expo Details

The expo will be on July 26th (10 am -6 pm) and July 27th (10 am-4 pm) at Devos Place. You can purchase tickets for $10 in advance and $15 the day of. If you are unable to attend the Grand Rapids expo, it will also be in Detroit on July 13 and 14.