The Oddities and Curiosities Expo 2025

Just today for the first time I could go to the Oddities and Curiosities Expo, in the Seattle Convention Center. In simple terms, buying a ticket gives you access to the convention center hall where you can see a number of booths showing all kinds of weird and strange merchandise, the weirder and stranger the better. As the expo defines itself, "for lovers of strange, unusual and bizarre".

As I could see myself, and you can see in the pictures, there is indeed plenty of bizarre. Animal fetuses in jars, edible ants (which I bought and I'll try later), all kinds of skulls (the animal ones being real ones), horror themed artworks, strange antiques, witchcraft paraphernalia, and a whole lot more. Besides that, the convention center was quite crowded and many people were attractions in themselves, with some elaborate horror costumes. Black clothing was the overwhelming choice: I was wearing a dark green shirt and I was like a pop of color in the crowd.

In addition to the booths, there was a stage with equally bizarre shows. For example, one show included the old sword swallowing trick and a man who could step over broken glass (he asked a volunteer to check that it was indeed glass). Other highlights included the world record holder for the most tattoos (more than 99% of his body covered in tattoos), crystals artificially grown on real animal skulls, full size decorative coffins, creepy dolls available for adoption, bongs shaped like baby heads, herbal teas made with "stimulant" herbs and on and on and on... At times it felt like an overdose of bizarre.

Having said that, I found it enormously entertaining. Also, no description or pictures will make it justice: it's one of those things that are fully grasped only by being there. So, the expo is still open this Sunday, and I think it is an awesome way to spend an afternoon in Seattle!



























Location: Seattle, WA, USA

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