Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 11 AM–5 PM
The Tarantula Collective Studio | Wheeling, West Virginia
What is Spiderfest?
Spiderfest is an annual celebration of tarantulas, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, isopods, and all the other invertebrates we love.
Hosted by Tarantula Collective, Spiderfest brings together keepers, breeders, vendors, educators, content creators, and anyone curious about the world of arachnids and other invertebrates. Whether you’ve been keeping tarantulas for decades, just bought your first spiderling, or simply want to see some incredible animals up close, Spiderfest is for you.
This isn’t a traditional reptile expo. Spiderfest is a smaller, more focused event built around the invertebrate hobby and the community that surrounds it. You’ll have the opportunity to meet breeders and vendors, shop for tarantulas and other invertebrates, find enclosures and supplies, meet fellow keepers and content creators, and spend the day surrounded by people who share the same fascination with these often misunderstood animals.
When & Where
Sunday, September 13, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Tarantula Collective Studio
Wheeling, West Virginia
Spiderfest takes place right here at Tarantula Collective studio, the same space where I keep my collection, breed and raise animals, and photograph and film many of the species you see in my content.
Content Creators Are Welcome
Content creators are absolutely welcome at Spiderfest! Whether you make YouTube videos, Reels, TikToks, podcasts, photography, or other content focused on arachnids, reptiles, invertebrates, or exotic animals, we encourage you to bring your camera and document the event. Spiderfest is about bringing this community together, and we’re happy to have creators share the animals, vendors, people, and experience with their own audiences. We just ask that you be respectful of vendors, guests, and anyone who may not want to be filmed or photographed.
Spiderfest 2026 Vendors
Spiderfest is all about bringing together people who share a fascination with tarantulas, arachnids, and other invertebrates. This year’s vendor lineup will include tarantulas, jumping spiders, isopods, roaches, praying mantises, stick and leaf insects, supplies, artwork, merch, and much more.
We’re still adding vendors, so check back as we get closer to Spiderfest for new additions and updates!
The Tarantula Collective
Tarantulas • Invertebrates • Merch
The Tarantula Collective will have a large selection of tarantulas available, from tiny spiderlings to juveniles and adults, along with Tarantula Collective shirts, merch, macro photography prints, and more.
Tie Dyed Tarantula
Tarantulas
Tie Dyed Tarantula will be joining us with a selection of tarantulas available throughout the event.
The Bug Barn
Isopods
The Bug Barn specializes in isopods and will have a variety of species and colonies available for anyone looking to start or expand their isopod collection.
Spooky Sweet Spoods
Jumping Spiders
Spooky Sweet Spoods will be bringing jumping spiders to Spiderfest, giving attendees a chance to check out some of the most charismatic little spiders in the hobby.
Moonshadow Arachnids
Tarantulas • Roaches
Moonshadow Arachnids will have tarantulas and roaches available, adding even more variety to this year’s selection of invertebrates.
Heartleaf Tropicals
Praying Mantises • Leaf Insects • Stick Insects • Other Invertebrates
Heartleaf Tropicals will be bringing a variety of fascinating invertebrates, including praying mantises, leaf insects, stick insects, and more.
Memories of Violet
Enclosure Accessories • 3D Prints • Reptile & Invertebrate Art
Memories of Violet will have water dishes, hides, isopod food trays, keychains, magnets, and realistic 3D-printed reptiles and invertebrates.
More Vendors Coming Soon
We’re working on bringing even more variety to Spiderfest 2026. Additional vendors are expected to include a scorpion dealer, centipede dealer, and hopefully an oddities dealer.
Vendor details will be announced as they are confirmed.
What to Expect at Spiderfest
Spiderfest is more than just a place to buy tarantulas. It’s a chance to spend the day surrounded by people who are just as fascinated by spiders, scorpions, centipedes, insects, isopods, and other invertebrates as you are.
You’ll be able to shop from a variety of specialized vendors, see some incredible animals up close, discover species you may have never encountered before, pick up new enclosures and supplies, and meet breeders, keepers, content creators, and other members of the community.
The Tarantula Collective studio will also be open during the event, giving you a chance to see where our videos are filmed and get a look at some of the animals in our permanent collection.
Whether you’re an experienced keeper looking for something new, a family coming to see some amazing animals, or you’re just curious about spiders and other creepy crawlies, you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy Spiderfest.
Traveling to Spiderfest
Coming from out of town? Wheeling is conveniently located along I-70 in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, making Spiderfest an easy drive from Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, and many other cities throughout the region. If you’re traveling a little farther, there are also several nearby places to stay and an easy option for flying into the area.
Where to Stay
If you’re spending the night in Wheeling, here are three hotels we recommend:
Hampton Inn Wheeling
795 National Road, Wheeling, WV
The Hampton Inn on National Road is one of our first recommendations for Spiderfest visitors. It’s conveniently located in Wheeling with easy access to I-70, restaurants, Oglebay, and the surrounding area.
Oglebay Resort
465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV
If you want to turn Spiderfest into a weekend getaway, Oglebay is our top recommendation. The 2,000-acre resort offers lodging, restaurants, golf, a spa, walking trails, the Oglebay Good Zoo, and plenty of other activities. In addition to traditional lodge rooms, cottages and larger vacation homes are available for families and groups traveling together.
SpringHill Suites Wheeling Triadelphia Area
908 National Road, Wheeling, WV
SpringHill Suites is another convenient option located on National Road. The all-suite hotel provides easy access to I-70, downtown Wheeling, Oglebay, restaurants, and the surrounding area.
Flying to Spiderfest?
If you’re coming from farther away, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is the closest major airport, approximately 50 miles from Wheeling. The drive from the airport to Wheeling is generally around an hour, making flying in for Spiderfest a realistic option.
We recommend renting a car at the airport, which will be the easiest way to get to Wheeling and give you the freedom to explore the area throughout the weekend.
Make It an Entire Reptile & Arachnid Weekend!
If you’re already traveling to Spiderfest, there’s another reason to come a day early.
The Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo 5 Year Anniversary Bash takes place Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the Monroeville Convention and Events Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, just one day before Spiderfest.
You could fly or drive into the Pittsburgh area on Friday, spend Saturday at the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo, then head to Wheeling for Spiderfest on Sunday, September 13 from 11 AM–5 PM.
Between the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo on Saturday and Spiderfest on Sunday, you can turn the trip into an entire weekend dedicated to reptiles, tarantulas, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, insects, isopods, and the people who keep them.
See You at Spiderfest!
Whether you’re coming to find your next tarantula, meet some of your favorite breeders and content creators, discover an invertebrate you’ve never seen before, or just spend the afternoon surrounded by people who think spiders are awesome, we hope you’ll join us.
Spiderfest 2026
Sunday, September 13 | 11 AM–5 PM
Wheeling, West Virginia
Admission: $5 | Kids 17 & Under FREE with an Adult
Come hang out, meet some amazing animals and even better people, and help us celebrate the arachnid and invertebrate community!
