Connecticut Needs A Reptile Expo Like Westchester’s Event

Where would you go if you needed an albino Rat snake in Connecticut? How about a Bearded Dragon? Sure, Petco and All Pets Club stock a few snakes, turtles, and lizards, but an event is coming to Westchester, NY this weekend, and I'm jealous.

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Reptile Expo is coming back to the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY on Sunday, July 13 and again on Sunday, September 7, 2025. For responsible owners and fans of exotic pets this is an event that Connecticut has yet to book.

I have seen some smaller scale reptile events happen in Connecticut over the years, but they were typically held in small halls, VFW's, or community buildings, not at the Connecticut Convention Center, XL Center, or even the underrated Naugatuck Events Center.

What Exactly is a Reptile Exposition?

Have you ever been to a Reptile exhibition? I know most would shy away from an event with 250+ vendors that are ready to sell you a baby Boa Constrictor or Leopard Gecko, but I would. I used to attend these exotic marketplaces all the time when I lived in Oklahoma. The Midwest in the 1980's was a free-for-all in exotic pet sales, and it still kind of is. I remember seeing rows of baby lizards, exotic turtles, huge tarantulas, snakes and frogs under heat lamps and aquarium set-ups at these events, and they were all available for purchase.

Connecticut has everything: Two Renaissance Fairs, numerous Strawberry Festivals, Tattoo conventions, even a Potato & Corn Festival. We have an excellent location in Enfield's Riverside Reptiles, but nothing devoted to snakes and lizards.