Now in its fifth year, the expo has grown into one of Ventura’s most anticipated fall events. This year’s show features more than 150 spooky artists and vendors, filling the fairgrounds’ halls and lawn with everything from antique medical oddities to taxidermy, vintage Halloween decor, and dark art. Past years have drawn circus sideshow props, shocking natural wonders, and oddball items dabbling in the occult — the kind of curated strangeness that rewards slow browsing.
The entertainment runs all day. Sideshow performances happen every hour on the hour in the Main Hall, and spooky special guests roam the halls throughout the weekend. Photo opportunities are built into the experience too — guests can snap selfies in a retired casket among other themed setups scattered through the venue.
It’s not just a shopping event. Past expos have brought in live tattoo artists working the floor, a free arts and crafts booth for kids, and a costume contest open to adults, kids, and teens judged in separate categories. Food and drink are covered on-site as well, with a full bar and a rotating lineup of specialty vendors serving coffee, baked goods, and sweets.
The event bills itself as a family-friendly celebration of the weird and wonderful, and that balance is part of its charm — a show curious kids can wander through by day and adults can browse with a drink in hand by evening. Kids 10 and under get in free with a paid adult admission, and early-entry VIP tickets a
re available for those who want first pick of the vendor tables before general admission opens.
Whether you’re a longtime collector of the unusual or simply curious what a “retired hearse club” looks like parked on a fairground lawn, the Seaside Oddities Expo offers a distinctly Ventura spin on spooky season — equal parts art show, flea market, and sideshow revival.
The 5th Annual Seaside Oddities Expo hits the Ventura County Fairgrounds September 26–27, 2026, with 150+ dark artists, vendors, and sideshow performers. Get $10 tickets and full details at seasideodditiesexpo.com.
