MILWAUKEE–The World Oddities Expo is a one-stop shop for all things unique, offering decor made of bones, taxidermy art, animal specimens and even permanent ink.
The traveling show visits 36 cities across the United States, with Milwaukee being one of the last few stops on the 2026 tour.
WOE is described as a market for curious people; organizers said there is something for everyone and every interest. The expo changes in variation depending on the vendors and state laws as to what can be sold.
In Milwaukee, near the entrance, there are multiple tattoo artists with hundreds of pre-drawn tattoos available for guests to purchase and get inked on the spot.
Vendor booths line the room selling unique oddities, including: lamps made of bones, handmade candles, art made of insect wings, pop culture paintings and more.
“It’s ​a ​dying ​art ​and ​a ​lot ​of ​people ​won’t ​be ​able ​to ​see ​that ​animal ​live ​in ​person,” said taxidermy vendor TJ Burdette. “So ​you ​get ​to ​see ​it ​in ​the ​afterlife ​in ​a ​sense.”
Burdette and his wife, Jess Burdette, have been in the taxidermy business since 2022. Beyond selling pieces at their booth, Jess Burdette teaches taxidermy classes at WOE shows.
In Milwaukee, she offered rat taxidermy classes, where attendees are given all the supplies and instructions to mount a rat and create an art piece to take home.
“It’s very popular,” said Burdette. “We’ve ​been ​able ​to ​sustain ​ourselves ​full-​time ​for ​almost ​a ​year ​now ​off ​the ​classes ​and ​the ​shows.”
Taxidermy classes range from $200 to $300 at WOE, often selling out.
“How ​often ​are ​you ​going ​to ​be ​able ​to ​play ​with ​a ​bunny ​or ​a ​rat ​and ​then ​make ​it ​your own ​thing,” said Burdette. “Open ​your ​mind ​up ​a ​little ​bit, even ​if ​you ​want ​that ​cute ​little ​skull ​or ​cute ​little ​fox, ​rabbit, ​whatever, ​go ​for ​it.”
Additionally, WOE offers a variety of classes, including how to pin butterflies. First-time WOE attendee Valorie Achtor took the class on Saturday.
“I’ve ​really ​always ​wanted ​a ​pinned ​butterfly,” said Achtor. “​I’ve ​just ​never ​bought ​one ​so ​I ​thought ​I ​could ​do ​it ​myself.”
Achtor said she’s always been into “weird things” and said pinning butterflies is just a way to preserve the beautiful creatures.
Dead things may not be for everyone, luckily the oddities expo has live insects too.
Entomologist Trisha ​Nichols allows guests to hold her pet tarantula, Moe, and hissing cockroaches, Mac and Cheese, for a small donation.
“I’ve ​just ​been ​out ​there ​collecting ​bugs ​since ​I ​was ​itty ​bitty,” said Nichols. “Now ​I ​get ​to ​teach ​about ​them ​full ​time and ​I ​love ​that.”
Nichols performs a daily informational insect show on the stage at WOE. The expo hosts various live performances throughout the day, many described as “circus sideshow acts”.
“Our audience is for everyone,” said WOE Assistant Entertainment Director Kyrstal Younglove.”A ​lot ​of ​times, ​what ​we ​have​ are a ​lot ​of ​very ​curious ​people ​that ​maybe ​haven’t ​had ​access ​to ​the ​concentration ​of ​the ​things ​that ​we ​are ​bringing ​into ​the ​space.”
Curious about the odd? Explore the World Oddities Expo on Sept. 26 and 27 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee.
