On Sunday, October 12, 2025, downtown Riverside’s Mission Inn district hosted a gathering for the weird and wonderful: Oddly Manor Oddities Market, running from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. The event was free, all ages, pet-friendly, and encouraged vintage/Halloween costumes, leaning into the eerie season with style.

The market’s location, 3975 Mission Inn Avenue, placed it in a charming, walkable stretch. By afternoon, stalls of curios, handmade oddities, gothic apparel, vintage Halloween décor, and art prints filled the alleyways and sidewalks. Attendees, some dressed in alt fashion attire or classic horror silhouettes, drifted between booths, exploring and chatting with vendors.

Atmospherics were part of the draw. Organizers leaned into vintage Halloween vibes, black lace, old Halloween music from the 30’s and 40’s, transforming a sunny Riverside afternoon into a subtly gothic stroll. Costumes weren’t just tolerated; they were part of the texture. The crowd was a mix: die-hard goths and horror buffs mingling with curious locals and families, drawn by novelty or seasonal interest.

What stood out was the curation. Vendors didn’t lean “mercenary-flea” so much as “carefully weird.” You could find resin skull jewelry, taxidermy curios, occult prints, upcycled antiques with weird patinas, or art pieces inspired by horror and Victorian aesthetics. The variety kept you wandering. One stall might carry candles inspired by horror movies, the next hand-made scale armor, the next spooky original art prints. The pricing mainly sat in impulse-buy range, but select pieces had collectors’ ambition behind them.

One pleasant surprise: the pet-friendly rule. Leashed dogs roamed, sometimes wearing little gothic collars, adding a charming touch rather than feeling gimmicky. Families passed through respectfully, kids wide-eyed. It felt inclusive without compromising the dark aesthetic.

As the sun dipped, the mood tightened. Shadows deepened, lanterns glowed, and the collector energy ramped. People lingered at favorite booths, comparing finds, trading vendor cards, and taking staged photos in moody corners. Costume silhouettes became sharper against the dusky backdrop. It was then that the market felt fully alive and as weird as it aspired to be.

Oddly Manor Oddities Market delivered on what it promised: a curated oddities stroll with heart, not hype. It didn’t need a whole production spectacle. Its strength was in offering weird, accessible, local art and curios in a seasonally appropriate setting. For Riverside’s alternative communities, it was a win. For the curious, it offered a taste of gothic charm without imposing. It could become a must-attend seasonal fixture.