Snakes, lizards, geckos, tarantulas, frogs, and creatures most Texans have never seen up close — HERPS Exotic Reptile and Pet Shows are coming to Conroe, Corpus Christi, Taylor, and Bryan-College Station between June and August. Family-friendly, vendor-packed, and completely one of a kind.
If your kids have ever pressed their faces against a reptile tank at the pet store and refused to leave, HERPS has a show near you this summer. The HERPS Exotic Reptile and Pet Shows have been running family-friendly reptile expos across Texas and the Gulf South for nearly a decade, and the 2026 Texas schedule is the most packed the series has offered — four shows in three months, from the Houston area to the Gulf Coast to the Brazos Valley.
These are not zoo exhibits where you look through glass. These are hands-on expos where you can handle animals, talk directly with breeders, ask every question you’ve ever had about reptile ownership, and potentially go home with your first snake, gecko, bearded dragon, or something entirely unexpected. Every show is family-friendly, vendor-curated, and built around responsible reptile ownership starting with knowledge and connection to the community.
What You’ll Find at a HERPS Show
The vendor floor covers the full spectrum of the reptile hobby — ball pythons, corn snakes, boas, king snakes, and a rotating selection of more exotic species. Geckos in every morph imaginable. Bearded dragons, blue-tongued skinks, and monitor lizards. Frogs, toads, and dart frogs in colors that look digitally enhanced. Tarantulas for the truly adventurous. Tortoises for the patient. Hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and African giant millipedes for the adventurous family shopper.
HERPS shows also include a regulated selection of venomous species — the Conroe show is now the largest venomous show in Texas — one of the things that sets HERPS apart from other expos and draws experienced hobbyists from across the state.
Vendors are experienced keepers and breeders who genuinely want to help first-time owners succeed. Concessions are available at all shows. An educational section with hands-on learning is available at most locations.
Show hours: Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. / Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: $12 adults / $5 children ages 5–12 / Children 4 and under always free Tickets purchased at the door only — cash and credit/debit cards accepted
The Four Texas Shows — Summer 2026
Conroe, TX — June 13 and 14
The largest reptile show in the Houston area and the largest venomous show in Texas. The Conroe Expo has a loyal following of repeat attendees from across the greater Houston metro and draws vendors from across the region and beyond. An easy drive north of The Woodlands.
Dates: Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026 Venue: Lone Star Convention and Expo Center Address: 9055 Airport Rd., Conroe, TX 77303 Admission: $12 adults / $5 ages 5–12 / 4 and under free
Corpus Christi, TX — August 8 and 9
The Gulf Coast edition — serving South Texas, the Coastal Bend, and the Rio Grande Valley. Located at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown, just outside Corpus Christi.
Dates: Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2026 Venue: Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds Address: 1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd., Robstown, TX 78380 Admission: $12 adults / $5 ages 5–12 / 4 and under free
Taylor, TX — August 15 and 16
Central Texas gets its own HERPS show — serving the entire Austin metro from the northeast. Taylor sits just 30 miles from downtown Austin and is easily accessible from Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, and the surrounding area. Venue details to be confirmed — check herpshow.net/shows/taylor-tx for the specific address closer to the event.
Dates: Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026 Location: Taylor, TX Admission: $12 adults / $5 ages 5–12 / 4 and under free Details: herpshow.net/shows/taylor-tx
Bryan-College Station, TX — August 29 and 30
The HERPS summer season closes in Aggieland — a homecoming for HERPS owner Sean Gray, who lives in Bryan-College Station. Held at the Brazos County Expo Center, this show draws attendees from Waco, Huntsville, and the surrounding Brazos Valley.
Dates: Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, 2026 Venue: Brazos County Expo Center Address: 5827 Leonard Rd., Bryan, TX 77807 Admission: $12 adults / $5 ages 5–12 / 4 and under free
Tips for First-Time Attendees
Bring questions — every vendor is there because they love these animals and want to talk about them. For a child’s first reptile, ask the vendors what they recommend for beginners. A corn snake or a leopard gecko is the typical starting point for children under 10. A ball python, like 24-year-old Hershey who serves as an ambassador at the HERPS shop in Bryan, can live nearly 50 years and make a lifelong companion.
Wear comfortable shoes and plan to spend two to three hours walking the floor. Bring cash — many vendors accept cards, but cash moves faster on a busy floor. Popular morphs and rare species sell quickly on the first morning of each show.
Contact HERPS
Phone: (979) 595-7831 Email: [email protected] Website: herpshow.net Facebook: HERPS Exotic Reptile and Pet Shows Instagram: @herpshow
