PDX: The Skeleton Key Odditorium Museum & Oddity Shop

Although last week's review of the Clackamas County Winter Fair and Holiday Market is the last of the Christmas-specific blogging for the season, I wanted the review for the Odditorium to be adjacent. After all, Krampus was there.

Otherwise, one would tend to think of it as more of a Halloween activity.

In fact, we learned of it at the Halloween Culture Preservation Museum.

That being said, the most similar local attraction would be the Peculiarium, though the moods are different.

The self-guided tour takes you through different types of oddities, with signage on how one might view them as oddity.

Some are more convincing then others.

There are models but also actual artifacts, including some that might be haunted.

For example, here are jewels made of blood:

I appreciated that while the exhibits were not exclusively Oregonian, local weirdness was represented.

(Well, maybe being from the haunted house at the Enchanted Forest isn't that weird, but it wasn't the only Oregon thing.)

One reason I wanted to go was the exhibit on Victorian mourning, but it ended up being less interesting than most of the other exhibits.

I did not feel anything scary, at least not that way (though I appear to have no sensitivity to ghosts).

However, I will say that it is pretty dimly lit, and there were some sounds that were hard to account for. 

So, when there was a "Step Here" pad in front of this guy, I just didn't want to step on it without knowing how near he might approach.

Later I did it with this guy, because I was sure he would not go past the table and based on his arm length I wasn't worried.

There is certainly the potential to be more creeped out, but that also depends on where your interests lie.

COVID: The attraction is completely inside. While it was not crowded at all, I stayed masked.

Accessibility: While there were steps in some places, there did not seem to be anywhere that could not be accessed by ramp.

The low lighting could be an impediment, so that is something to keep in mind.

The Skeleton Key Odditorium is located at 930 SW 10th Avenue in Portland. They open at noon Wednesday through Sunday, but their closing time varies by day.

General admission is $15, but there is a discount for youth.

https://www.skeletonkeyodditorium.com/

Clackamas County Winter Fair & Holiday Market

Lots of cool new things came up this holiday season. We made it to some of them, like Winter Gleam, and did not make it to others, like The Magic of Lights at the Salem Fairground.

Missing the Winter Fair was my biggest regret from last year. I really wanted to make it this year.

We did! It did not disappoint!

One of the nice things about this one is that it is a regular tradition. If you missed it, you will have to wait until next year, but waiting is probably safe.

Technically I did not do a good job of reviewing the "market" part, because we weren't really interested in that.

You can buy things.

That is mainly inside, although there are various booths scattered outside where they will check to see if you are interested in new gutters or things like that.

We were there for the light displays. That's the part that made me happy.

I admit that it would be possible to see a lot of that without going in, but it's for community and not really that expensive.

There is a path that you follow that winds through the different displays.

Many of the displays are sponsored by various groups and you can vote on your favorite. 

That may remind you a bit of Powerland's Holiday Sparkles or Albany's Storybook Land.

Helping guide along those paths was an abundance of light tunnels. That was pretty cool.

There were also lots of obvious photo opportunities.

You could do that with more light or in the dark.

With a wider or narrower frame.

There were just a lot of options.

Something else fun was the abundance of farm and rodeo-themed decorations.

This felt very appropriate for where we attended Ag Fest and where they have the fair and rodeo.

There were some adorable critters.

I admit, we enjoyed it more after the rain stopped, but it did stop. That may not be something you can count on in winter in the Willamette Valley, but sometimes things work out.

COVID: The light displays are outside, so I removed my mask.. The market is inside, but also you enter the light display through the building. Masks were not particularly popular, but I recommend them.

Accessibility: This was pretty good. There are ramps where needed and the path is mostly smooth, though it is not all completely paved. 

I realized later that I should have paid more attention to the food service area. It was sunken and I don't know if there was another option for access besides the steps. 

However, on the main level there was a bathroom. It is so common for it to be portable toilets at events like this that I appreciated having that option.

https://clackamascountyfair.com/winter-fair-and-holiday-market/