Third Annual Cortland Curiosities Market

Calling all spooky kids, witchy wanderers, and collectors of the curious, your season has arrived! The 3rd Annual Cortland Curiosities Market is back on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 11am- 5pm, and this year it’s slinking into a brand-new lair: The Vault Grand Venue in downtown Cortland.

Yes, that Vault, a historic bank turned event space, complete with heavy vault doors, soaring ceilings, and a little atmosphere that practically begs the question: is it haunted? (We’ll never tell.) Add in an on-site Airbnb suite upstairs, and you’ve got yourself the perfect excuse to turn this oddities market into a Cortland County weekend getaway with your favorite spooky crew.

This isn’t your standard crash pad either. With room for a coven (or just your curious crew), this upstairs hideaway sleeps around 12–14 guests comfortably. The décor mirrors the building’s historic character: soaring ceilings, exposed brick, vintage fixtures, and ambient lighting that whispers of bygone erras and candlelit mysteries. It’s the perfect blend of elegance and eerie intrigue, an immersive stay that complements your day at the market. Click here to explore the Vault. 

This year’s market is brimming with pieces that will be the prize of your curiosity cabinet. From the Dirt Craftworks brings a dragon’s hoard of ethically sourced bones and taxidermy, from adorned skulls to bone jewelry. Good Neighbor Art offers memento mori creations that prove beauty and mortality go hand in skeletal hand. Fiddle Head Finds & Designs has curated a collection of unique, rare, and possibly haunted antiques treasures.  All My Friends Books has stocked up on spine-tingling horror and ghostly tales perfect for a cozy candlelit October night. And Area 51 is ready to land with otherworldly oddities and epic merch from your favorite fandoms, and RPG goodies you won’t find anywhere else.

Once your shelves are brimming, it’s time to refine your style. Add a touch of dark glam with handcrafted jewelry from Evermore, and complete the look with an exclusive Cortland Curiosities super-soft tee or tote you won’t find anywhere else. Crown City Curiosities will fill your closet with witchy wares and vintage finds that might just cast a spell on your wardrobe. For those looking to scent their aura, Press Gurwitz Perfumerie will help you choose a sinfully sensual fragrance that lingers like a ghost in the room. And don’t forget, Clarity Tarot will be on site with private readings, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the unknown.

If there’s a cottage-core granny in your soul, we’ve got plenty of treasures for you too. Maslin’s Guarden weaves morbidly marvelous macramé threaded with tiny skulls and designs terrariums that are equal parts greenhouse and spell jar. Nipotina Herb Farm brews up herbal teas and potions, infused honeys, and oracle ritual boxes for cozy evenings of magical self-care. And Beacon Peak blends woodworking with macabre artistry, offering jewelry and collectibles that belong in both fairy cottages and haunted mansions.

No market would be complete without a little treat. This year, The Vault’s bar will be open, serving up spooky craft cocktails, coffee concoctions, and crisp cider so you can sip while you shop. Or, if you’d rather linger, take your bewitched beverage and sweet treat up to the mezzanine lounge. It's the perfect perch to relax with your companions while gazing down at the bustling market below.

Adding even more spirit to the mix, Dragonfyre Distillery is rolling up with the infamous Dragon Wagon, pouring local whiskey, bourbon, and moonshine tastings sure to warm your bones. And for those with a sweet tooth, Gypsy & Gent Vintage Finds & Bakes is conjuring up devilishly delicious baked goods, including gluten-free treats so enchanting, you’ll swear they were crafted in a cauldron. 

No matter what kind of spooky kid you are, you’ll find a little something to make the season more magical at this year’s market. Whether you come to fill your shelves with oddities, refresh your gothic aesthetic, sip a bewitched cocktail, or simply wander among Cortland County’s most wonderfully weird makers, the 3rd Annual Cortland Curiosities Market promises a day of thrills and chills you won’t soon forget.

Get your spooky on in Cortland County this October. Join us on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 11am-5pm at The Vault located at 35 Main Street, Cortland, NY. Admission is free, making this one of the most unique and curious Halloween events in Central New York. So, mark your calendar, gather your favorite weirdos, and meet us downtown... if you dare.

Get your daily dose of Cortland cool. Tag @experiencecortland607 and use #experiencecortland to snag your shot at Insta-fame!