Tamara Mack just started Tucson Terror and Oddities Market this September. Although it is a new shopping experience, it is already gaining a following because of its selection of macabre, horror, goth and paranormal items, as well as its interactive photo ops and activities. 

The December holiday market, which will have a Krampus theme, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Coalition Space. 

They will also be having a Winter Yule Market Jan. 24, a Creepy Cupid market on Feb. 21 and a Lucky Leprechauns market on March 14. 

Mack produces themed markets every month. She said since the beginning, they have been popular among shoppers and vendors.  

“We sold out immediately. We’ve sold out each month as we’ve moved forward. Vendors have had a great turnout,” Mack said. 

Mack said the location has helped in attracting shoppers to the market. 

“We’re right off of Fourth Avenue. We’re got a parking lot across the street. It’s very accessible to people, who can wander into it,” Mack said. 

She runs a company called Cannibal Collections, through which she sells hand-painted horror luggage and true crime apparel, jewelry and accessories. She has tabled at different horror expos and markets in Arizona and other states. 

She said that traveling out of state for markets can get costly, so having a local spot to sell is important. 

“There was a market prior to our market, that had some oddities. I met a lot of artists. I had no idea there was so many good, talented artists here in town. That particular market was a really great niche, but the people that ran it just took off… That was in the spring. I had booked all these shows through December with them, and now that was gone. I couldn’t book more because everybody fills up everywhere. I thought, ‘Why don’t I just create a market that would be a platform for all these alternative artists and these oddities?’ Within two weeks of me finding out that the other market was gone, I went ahead and talked to the Coalition Space, talked to Fourth Avenue, and I booked it up for the year. I started connecting with the vendors here in town and launched Tucson Terror and Oddities Market,” Mack said. 

The upcoming market will have 22 artists inside the building and 17 artists in the outdoor courtyard. 

Vendors will sell a range of different products, including coffee and hot chocolate, baked goods, apparel, horror-themed artwork, jewelry, stickers, taxidermy items, headdresses, occult items, candles and edgier crocheted pieces.  

Prices range from $5 to $10 to hundreds of dollars. 

Mack said during the December market, vendors are catering to different types of shoppers. 

“Everybody knows to have things that are impulse buys, stocking-stuffer-type things but also some really nice pieces. There’s last-minute gift shopping because we are the last big market of the season, but there’s pieces in there that they’re not going to find anywhere else,” Mack said. 

Over the last few months, Mack has built a database of over 200 vendors, which she is able to draw from for the markets.   

Mack curates the markets to make sure there are different types of items available. 

“I open up vendor applications two months prior to each market. We keep it open for about a month and fill in spaces… Whoever gets on there first is going to have a better shot at it, but I never book too many of the same….That’s better for the artists, but for people that are coming, we want them to see a variety and have lots to choose from,” Mack said. 

Prior the markets, Mack shares information on social media about the vendors, who in turn help to promote the event and to refer other artists. 

They have a mixture of new and returning vendors each market. Most of them are from Phoenix and Tucson. 

Mack always tries to include vendors who are just starting out with doing markets. 

“I try to help them understand how to put together a good booth and how to display,” Mack said. 

She said the markets offer a place for artists that don’t fit in typical art festivals or street fairs. 

“There’s just not a great platform out there for alternative artists. The street fair doesn’t work for everybody. We’re definitely not Temu or Amazon shopping. We have one-of-a-kind art, but it’s really unusual. It’s got a twist to it,” Mack said. 

Along with running her own horror and true crime business, Mack has a background in event planning. She has organized wedding, red carpet, film, Halloween and fashion show events for over 30 years. 

She also has owned her own children’s stores. 

At every market, Mack has tried to offer interactive experiences for guests. 

In the fall, they had a Pumpkin King backdrop and opportunities to take pictures with Jason Voorhees and Leatherface. 

“It’s just to keep it fun and unique, and they have great memories when they leave,” Mack said. 

During the upcoming market, attendees will have a chance to take pictures with Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon creature from Alpine folklore. He is considered to be a counterpart to Santa and is sent to punish naughty children. 

For the markets, Mack often makes props for the photo ops. She created trees and garlands, a bench for Krampus and a corpsed reindeer and elves for the holiday market. 

She has been building props for most of her life. 

“Even in high school, I was working for a party company, building props for them. That’s always been my background. I love taking a full theme and running with it. I like horror, so it’s allowed me to take what my skills are and what I love to do and make it work for other people as well… I have a great reserve of props from over the years. If I don’t have it, I make it,” Mack said.  

Tucson Terror and Oddities Krampus Holiday Market 

WHEN: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 

Saturday, Dec. 20 

WHERE: The Coalition Space, 311 E. 7th Street, Tucson 

COST: Free admission 

INFO: terrorandodditiesmarket.com