Adam Ervin from Enchanted Things sells handmade candles and creative decorations at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds of visitors — some wearing unique costumes — walked around the busy and energetic room to support local artists and authors at the first Market for the Strange of 2025 held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16.
About 70 vendors were present selling hot sauces, handcrafted masks, 3D-printed decorations, cake pops, gothic apparel and many books in a lively and welcoming environment. Large groups of people stood in line to get tattoos, while others attentively listened to authors talk about their new books.
At Market for the Strange, visitors can connect with one another and support small businesses who share their passion for the quirky, abnormal and gothic. Sunday’s event was “Lovecraft’s Library,” with a focus on literature and local authors.
“We love the community that has grown up at our market. We see friends connecting, people dressing up. It’s a positive, healthy space for Salem, and it’s something that a lot of people need right now,” said Yamen O’Donnell, one of the organizers.
Yamen O’Donnell, one of the organizers of Market for the Strange, sells prints of fractal art and other items at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)
Visitors also participated in a literary scavenger hunt where they had to find all independent authors to win a prize.
The next Market for the Strange, titled “Take a Bite,” will be in Portland on March 15, followed by another one in Salem on April 27. More information is available on their website.
Handmade plushies from Poki Crafts ‘n Stuff at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Camillea Hughes from The Altered Artistry prepares an item to sell at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Adam Andrew Johnson explains the plot of his new book to shoppers at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)An octopus sits in a jar patiently waiting to be bought at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A vendor displays spitirually-themed antiques for sale at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Dani DeGraw gets a tattoo of two bones laced together at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A shopper reaches to grab handmade tarot cards displayed at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Jeff Horner from Horners Haunted Corner displays handmade masks at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Rachel McGrath displays literature-themed shirts and hoodies for sale with puns at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Adam Ervin from Enchanted Things sells handmade candles and creative decorations at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Robert Serrano, owner of Ill-Fated Tattoo, prepares his equipment before his next customer at the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A visitor buys prints at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A decoration of a raccoon selling pumpkins on display at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Wood carvings for sale at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Stephen Bishop, owner of 9ine Circles of Hell, gives a visitor a hot sauce sample at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Poki, owner of Poki Crafts ‘n Stuff and self-described “maker of nonsense” explains how they made their handmade products on display at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A visitor admires prints for sale at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Jeff Horner from Horners Haunted Corner displays handmade masks and decorations at the Market for the Strange in the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)
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Alan Cohen is an intern at the Salem Reporter and an undergraduate at Willamette University. Born and raised in Spain, he has also been involved in student journalism for three years, and is passionate about bringing a voice to underrepresented communities through ethical reporting.
