Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities Con is a weekend gathering of the rare, the remarkable, and the wonderfully weird, set inside the striking halls of Altgeld Hall Castle. Guests can explore a curated mix of dark art, oddities, curiosities, handcrafted goods, and unforgettable displays while connecting with artists, vendors, collectors, and creators from across the unusual spectrum. Whether you arrive as a devoted fan of the macabre or simply curious about the strange and beautiful, you’ll leave with fresh inspiration, fascinating finds, and stories worth carrying home. 🐙🕯️
Meet featured guests, creators, and remarkable personalities from the worlds of dark art, oddities, horror, the paranormal, and the beautifully bizarre. Catch them for meet and greets, photo ops, signings, Q and A moments, featured appearances, and select sessions throughout the weekend. Come curious and leave inspired, entertained, and maybe just a little haunted. 🖤
Settle in for engaging talks exploring dark history, folklore, paranormal topics, unusual artistry, collecting, the strange and unexplained, and more. Whether you’re drawn to haunted objects, eerie traditions, obscure knowledge, or the stories behind the unusual, these presentations offer plenty to discover. Come with questions and leave with new ideas, strange stories, and fresh fascination. 📚✨
Roll up your sleeves and get hands on. Our workshops are interactive, beginner friendly, and designed to give guests a chance to create, explore, and engage with the unusual in a more personal way. Expect guided activities, take-home projects, creative exercises, and a few unforgettable moments along the way. Come ready to try something new and leave with something delightfully strange. 🎨🕯️
Wander a curated marketplace of dark art, curiosities, handmade goods, macabre décor, wearable art, collectibles, and other uncommon treasures. From eerie creations and conversation-starting oddities to rare finds from artists, makers, and merchants, there’s plenty to uncover. Come browse, connect with vendors, and leave with something strange, beautiful, or wonderfully unexpected. 🦇
Get up close with an incredible collection of reptiles,
exotic animals, and other fascinating creatures as
The Reptile Den takes over the main room
stage throughout Dark Art and Oddities Con weekend.
Led by Ali Baghdadi and The Reptile Den team, this
interactive experience brings education, live animal
encounters, and unforgettable moments right into the
heart of the convention.
Stop by throughout the weekend, meet some extraordinary
animal ambassadors, learn about the creatures on display,
and experience one of the biggest attractions of the
2026 Dark Art and Oddities Con.
Discover presentations, lectures, workshops and unforgettable experiences happening throughout Dark Art and Oddities Con weekend.
When Dark Art and Oddities Con closes for the
evening, the experience continues inside one of
DeKalb's most iconic historic landmarks.
Join
Dale Kazmarek of Ghost Research Society
and
Andrew Johnson of Obscura Paranormal
for an exclusive after-hours paranormal
investigation of the historic Egyptian Theatre.
Explore the theatre after dark, investigate its
storied spaces and take part in a real paranormal
investigation alongside experienced investigators.
This special add-on experience is intentionally
limited to a very small group.
Get convention announcements delivered directly to your inbox, including newly announced guests, workshops, entertainment, ticket updates and other delightfully strange happenings.
The Dark Art and Oddities Con marketplace brings
together an eclectic collection of
artists, makers, oddities dealers,
metaphysical businesses, authors,
collectors and unusual vendors
from throughout the region and beyond.
Vendor space for the
2026 Dark Art and Oddities Con
is currently sold out, but you can still review
vendor information and learn more about joining
us at a future event.
