The 'Strange And Unusual' To Shine At Oddities And Dark Arts Market

TINLEY PARK, IL — Shoppers with a passion for the strange and unusual will have their chance to explore a brand new lineup of artists and makers Saturday, Oct. 5, at the return of the Oddities and Dark Arts Market. The event will be held at Soundgrowler Brewing, 8201 183rd St., Tinley Park.

This year, the market combines last year's Dark Arts and Oddities Markets into one, promising an expanded array of vendors and unique finds. With over 44 vendors both inside and outside the brewery, attendees can expect an extraordinary range of products—from live spiders and insect taxidermy to macabre artwork and curious decor.

"We’re bringing a curated selection of the weird and wonderful, including framed insect taxidermy, live spiders, original dark artwork, and decor for oddity enthusiasts," said John Streetz, the event organizer. "Vendors are excited to showcase their most unusual, otherworldly items, creating an unforgettable shopping experience."

Among the new vendors is 130 Exotics, offering live spiders and intricately decorated enclosures.

"We’re a small local business, and we produce most of the spiders ourselves," said Leonardo Villalobos, owner of 130 Exotics.

From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., the market will feature a wide variety of themed goods, including apparel, jewelry, original art, gothic entomology displays, herbal products, and spooky decor.

A full list of the artists in the event is here:

• 130 Exotics
• Art of Alex Kujawa
• Aubrey's Attic
• Be Delicious Sweets " Boozy Treats"
• Belonio Doodles
• BlackCraft Arts
• Bosco's All Natural Dog & Cat Holistic Store
• Cats, Crafts & Cooking
• Clay Urn Publishing LLC
• Concealed Realms Independent Publishing
• Dark Fey Arts
• Dead Girl Decor
• DK Custom Woodwork Co.
• Emily Strange Art
• Gigawatt Coffee Roasters
• ICollect4U
• Ink by Jordan
• Just Craftin Around
• KP's Candy Factory
• Libby McArthur Art
• Lorenzo Angel Bonilla
• Lost Oddballs Crochet
• Marisa Dion Art
• Metta Clay
• Mixtape Your Life, LLC
• Moon Shine Mama
• None Of This Is Cake
• Pinking Shears Craft Shop
• Pretty Spooky Handmade
• Prismatic Pumpkins
• Rantana Creations
• Raven Feathers and Bat Wings
• Sarah Cats Colors
• Saucy Makes
• Sealed Fate Curiosities
• Secondhand Nightmares
• Serpent & Flame Candle Company
• Stray Ghost
• Sunbeam Air Plants
• Ten Cups Tarot
• That’s Just Wrong
• The Curious Aesthetic
• The Tangled Dame
• Violet Weatherstone LLC
• ZombieliciousDesigns

"I’ll be debuting my new illustrated folklore book, '31 Supernatural Felines', which is perfect for cat lovers and witches alike," said Alex Kujawa, one of the featured artists.

Soundgrowler Brewing will serve its regular menu of tacos and other items, including the October special, “Monster Fries,” featuring seasoned fries topped with your choice of meat, nacho cheese, and caramelized onions. To keep things moving, the brewery will offer two service lines: one for beer-only orders and another for both food and drink.

Author Shannon Vierra of Clay Urn Publishing will also be at the market, selling her book "The Chimera Snare."

"There’s an underlying theme of memory in our book 'Fragments,'" said Vierra. "We’ve also curated custom craft products designed to enhance the reading experience with a resonating aroma."

The Oddities and Dark Arts Market is curated by John Streetz of the Streetz Artz Alliance, a collective of over 350 Chicago-area artists. The Alliance is dedicated to promoting small businesses and breweries, partnering with notable breweries such as Noon Whistle Brewing, Church Street Brewing, Brother Chimp Brewing, and more.

Attendees will find some Streetz Artz Alliance favorites, including Ten Cups Tarot, Gigawatts Coffee Roasters, DK Custom Woodwork Co., Belonio Doodles, and KP’s Candy Factory, all embracing the dark and unusual theme.

For more information, artist features, and event updates, visit the market’s Facebook event page.