Curated expo of bizarre items, entertainment coming to Novi this weekend

Preserved reptile embryos and taxidermized cowboy ducklings and jewelry made out of human teeth … oh my!

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo is bringing all things weird to Novi’s Suburban Collection Showplace this weekend, showing off hand-selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses for lovers of the strange, unusual and bizarre.

The expo started in 2017, when founders Michelle and Tony Cozzaglio realized there was an audience for this kind of disturbing showcase. It’s only grown since then, with dark artists, oddities businesses and eerie exhibitors skillfully curated for what attendees might like to see.

It’s a place where bones, diaphanized specimens and taxidermized animals are commonplace and probably available for purchase. Artwork, horror-inspired merchandise, antiques, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, other handcrafted oddities are also frequent sights and sells, along with lots of other items taken straight from your wildest nightmares.

For entertainment, there’s also photo ops, tarot readings, sideshow performers, and concessions available.

More: Doyles Irish pub opening at St. John’s Resort in Plymouth Township (freep.com)

For an additional cost, there are rat and jackalope taxidermy classes for $225 where attendees make their own full-sized taxidermy mounts, as well as butterfly pinning and preservation workshops for $150. Note, animals used throughout the expo, whether it’s in merchandise or preservation classes and workshops, died of natural causes and were ethically sourced.

The expo is open to all ages, although parents are advised to use their best judgment about whether their child should attend. If your kid scares easy, it might be better to let them sit this one out.

The expo runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 14. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of and can be purchased here. Children aged 12 and younger are free.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oddities and Curiosities Expo coming to Novi this weekend