Entry No. 62 — the Des Moines file — filed under: oddities
World Oddities Expo — Taxidermy & Pinning Classes
Once a year the World Oddities Expo rolls into the Iowa Events Center with a roster of genuinely strange hands-on classes you can register for on top of admission. Couples can pin and shadow-box their own butterfly, mount a responsibly sourced rabbit head into a 3D-horned 'Bunnicorn,' do a full-body rat taxidermy, or articulate a complete rat skeleton from loose bones. Instructors supply everything and walk you through start to finish; the 2026 Des Moines weekend is August 22-23.
The story
Once a year, the pristine, concrete floor of Hall C inside the Iowa Events Center gets taken over by something considerably darker than the usual trade show crowds. When the World Oddities Expo rolls into Des Moines, it brings along a traveling classroom dedicated to the anatomical arts, where you can spend an afternoon learning how to preserve, articulate, and mount actual animal specimens.
Forget passive observation. These are hands-on, start-to-finish workshops where instructors hand you scalpel, wire, pins, and ethically sourced specimens. You can sit down to carefully pin and shadow-box a butterfly specimen for $125, skin and mount a full-body rat for $250, or piece together a complete rat skeleton bone-by-loose-bone for $275. If you want something genuinely mythical, the $300 Bunnicorn class lets you mount 3D-horned taxidermy rabbit heads that look like they belonged on an ancient parlor wall.
The instructors supply every needle, form, and frame you need, walking you through every cut and pin step-by-step. You enter a standard downtown convention hall and walk out hours later with a custom-built horned rabbit or an articulated rodent skeleton cradled under your arm.
What it's like
You'll check in at Hall C at the Iowa Events Center and weave past the vendor aisles to find the designated workshop tables. The environment is instructional and methodical, with instructors providing all safety gear, chemical prep, and tools on-site. Keep in mind that workshop seats are sold as separate add-on tickets on top of general expo admission, and they sell out well in advance online. Note that technical sessions like rat skeleton articulation require participants to be at least 16 years old.
The move: Sign up together for the Bunnicorn class and mount a horned rabbit head as a souvenir of the weirdest date you've ever booked.
📍 Before you go Only happens one weekend a year (Aug 22-23, 2026). Classes are add-ons above expo admission and fill fast: butterfly pinning ~$125, full-body rat ~$250, Bunnicorn ~$300, rat skeleton articulation ~$275 (16+). Reserve class slots in advance.
- 📍 Downtown Des Moines
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Iowa Events Center, Hall C, 730 Third St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Haunt — Match the macabre atmosphere of your taxidermy class with drinks inside a basement speakeasy built into a haunted house attraction.
- JJ Gaffers Glass Blowing Studio — Keep your hands-on creation binge going by heading to Mainframe Studios to work molten glass after you finish mounting your specimen.
- Good News, Darling — Slip through an unmarked door into a tiny 26-seat hidden cocktail parlor downtown to decompress after an afternoon of articulating rat bones.
Good to know
Do I need to bring my own supplies or specimens?
No. Instructors supply all tools, chemicals, hardware, display boxes, and ethically sourced specimens needed for the class.
How much do the taxidermy and pinning workshops cost?
Workshop fees are separate add-ons on top of general expo admission. Butterfly pinning is around $125, full-body rat taxidermy runs ~$250, rat skeleton articulation is ~$275, and the Bunnicorn class sits around $300.
Are there age restrictions for the classes?
Yes. While simpler insect pinning classes are open to broader audiences, specialized technical classes like rat skeleton articulation require attendees to be 16 or older.
When is the expo in Des Moines?
The expo visits Des Moines for a single weekend each year. The 2026 weekend takes place August 22–23, 2026, at the Iowa Events Center.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · expedia.com
last checked: 2026-06-23