Est. 2001 · Hosted by Chicago Reptile House & ECO Publishing(708) 932-8044 · Facebook
Tinley Park Convention Center · Illinois

Tinley Park Reptile Show

The Midwest's flagship captive-bred expo — twenty-five years at the same standard.

18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Next Event
OCT 10–11, 2026
Saturday10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Vendor boothsSold Out · Waitlist Open
Admission

Tickets

Adult Admission

$15

Ages 13+. One-day pass — valid Saturday or Sunday.

Also available at the door · credit card or cash

Kids 6–12

$10

Ages 5 & under free with a paid adult. One-day pass.

Child VIP discounts: in person at Will Call only

VIP Pass All Weekend

$55

Friday early entry at 2:00 PM during vendor setup, 8:00 AM Saturday, 10:00 AM Sunday. First pick, both days.

Covers Fri preview + Sat + Sun
Will CallTickets are never mailed — online purchases are picked up at the N.A.R.B.C. Will Call counter. Wristbands must be worn and are strictly non-transferable.Purchase Online
Show Weekend

Schedule

Friday, October 9

10:00 AM – 7:00 PMVendor set upVendors
2:00 PM – 7:00 PMVIP early entry — walk the floor during setupVIP

Saturday, October 10

7:30 – 10:00 AMLast-minute vendor move-inVendors
8:00 AM – 5:00 PMVIP ticket holdersVIP
10:00 AM – 5:00 PMDoors open to the publicEveryone
6:00 PMUSARK Benefit Auction — North PavilionEveryone

Sunday, October 11

10:00 AM – 11:00 AMVIP + vendors hourVIP
11:00 AM – 4:00 PMGeneral admissionEveryone
4:00 PM – 8:00 PMTear down & move outVendors

Changes may occur — listen for announcements at the show.

The Floor

Vendors & Map

Interactive Floor Map
Tinley Park booth floor map — last published layout
Last published floor map — booth layout shifts per showOpen Virtual Map (ExpoFP)
Getting Here

Location & Hotels

Venue

Tinley Park Convention Center

18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Freight received at the venue dock. Label: ATTN business name & contact · NARBC · BOX # of #.

Host Hotels

EVEN Hotel Tinley ParkSOLD OUT

18501 Convention Center Drive · (708) 444-1100

Holiday Inn Tinley Park

Saturday · North Pavilion · Preview 5:30 PM · Gavel 6:00 PM

The USARK Benefit Auction

100% of proceeds fund USARK's fight to keep reptiles legal to keep. Cash bar, free appetizers while they last, tickets at the door. Vendors who donate an item get in free with their badge. Fair warning, in NARBC tradition: adult language (a lot), violence (only a little), possible nudity (only if you're lucky). Kids at your discretion.

Donate an Item
From the Floor

Show Photos · 73 from past Tinley Park shows

Good to Know

Frequently Asked

Is the show open to the public?

Yes — everyone is welcome. You do not need to be a breeder or a member of anything to walk in.

How much is admission?

$15 for ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 6–12, and free for ages 5 and under with a paid adult. VIP passes are $55. Tickets and passes are also available at the door.

Do I need to buy in advance, or can I pay at the door?

Either. Buying online saves time at the counter — pick up at Will Call — but you can pay at the door with credit card or cash. Come early either way; the first hours are the busiest.

Who can buy a VIP pass, and what does it include?

Anyone 13 and up, $55. VIP gets you in ahead of the public: Friday afternoon during vendor setup, and early entry both Saturday and Sunday — first pick of everything on the tables.

Is there a discounted VIP pass for kids?

Ages 5 and under are free with a paid adult. Discounted VIP passes for ages 6–12 may be available, but only in person at the Will Call counter — they are not sold online.

How does re-entry work? Can I come back on Sunday?

Regular tickets are one-day passes. VIP passes cover the show weekend. Keep your wristband on — they are non-transferable and cannot be replaced if removed.

What are the wristbands?

DuPont Tyvek bands, issued at admission. They must be worn and visible, and they are strictly non-transferable — passing one to someone else is treated as fraud. Uniformed civil servants and special-needs attendees are accommodated; ask at Will Call.

Do vendors take credit cards? Are there ATMs?

The honest answer is maybe — most vendors take cards or PayPal, but each one sets their own payment options, so ask. There are ATMs on site, but they are not ours and they can run dry by Saturday afternoon. Bring some cash.

Is this a captive-bred only show?

Yes. NARBC's founding rule: captive-born, healthy, thriving animals only — enforced with inspections before and during the show. No imports.

Are the animals out of their enclosures? Can we touch them?

Absolutely — but only at each vendor's discretion and with their permission. Ask first; every breeder here loves talking about their animals.

Are there venomous animals at the show?

Possibly, on educational display by zoological and conservation organizations — but never for sale.

Can I bring my pet?

No — only ADA-defined service animals with documentation, per local ordinance. (Your dog does not want to meet 400 snakes anyway.) Please do not walk pets in the venue.

Where exactly is the show?

Tinley Park Convention Center, in Tinley Park, IL. Directions, parking and the host hotels are on this page under Location & Hotels.

Who is selling at this show?

The full vendor roster for this show is on this page under Vendors & Map, and every vendor across all three shows is searchable in our directory.

Is there a lost and found?

Yes — at the Will Call / ticket counter. If you lose a child, go straight to any NARBC staff member or the ticket counter; we will lock it down and help you find them immediately.

What can't NARBC help with?

A few things are genuinely outside our control: we cannot set or negotiate vendor prices, we cannot validate parking, and we cannot take responsibility for personal property or for animals purchased from individual vendors. Anything about a specific animal or price is between you and that vendor.