Strange finds await at Oddities and Curiosities Expo in Del Mar

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo will return to the Del Mar Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, celebrating “all things peculiar and extraordinary.”

Fans of the abnormal can shop through thousands of items, ranging from “taxidermy, preserved animal specimens, original horror and Halloween- inspired artwork, antiques, metaphysical accoutrements, handcrafted oddities, bones, and funeral collectibles,” according to a statement from event organizers.

“We created this expo to give odd small businesses and artists a space where they can thrive,” said Michelle Cozzaglio, who founded the traveling expo with her husband Tony in their Oklahoma hometown in 2017. “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.”

On Saturday, guests can participate in the Opossum Taxidermy Class for $325. Sunday will feature the Ratalope Coffin Taxidermy Class and the Octopus & Tentacle Globe Wet Specimen Class for $175 each.

Both days will feature the Sunset Moth and Scorpion Habitat Entomology class with morning and afternoon sessions available for $150 per class. Materials and tools are provided, and tickets include admission to the expo.

The event will also feature photo opportunities, tarot card readings, sideshow performances and concessions.

“Our success comes from working with the best exhibitors in the world and curating every event to deliver exactly what our attendees want to see,” Cozzaglio said. “We’re always looking for ways to evolve and make the experience even better for both our exhibitors and our guests.”

The event runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and are available at oddities.com. Children 12 and younger are free, but parents are advised to use their best judgment about if their children should attend.

–City News Service