If you go
* What: Tattanooga Tattoo Expo* Where: Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge* When: 1-10 p.m. Friday, April 20; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, April 21; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 22* Admission: $20 one-day pass, $45 three-day pass* For more information: www.tattanoogaexpo.com
Nearly 200 tattoo artists from as far north as Anchorage, Alaska, to as far south as Fort Myers, Fla., will converge on Camp Jordan Arena for the third Tattanooga Tattoo Expo beginning Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22. The expo is hosted by Inked Expressions Tattoos.
In addition to inking walk-ins on-site, the artists will compete in daily tattoo contests and their amazingly intricate designs will be displayed in an art exhibit. The expo also includes a car and bike bash on Saturday, eight bands playing over the weekend, pin-up girl contest and side shows presented by aerialists, sword-swallowers and fire-eaters, says organizer Eric Newby.
"Last year we grew 33 percent. We're expecting to grow at least that much more this year," Newby says of the expo's two-year growth. "Everything is up; we've had more response for this one."
Although Tattanooga has held car and bike shows previously, this year's event has been revamped.
"We teamed up with Thunder Creek Harley- Davidson, which does a spring fling at their dealership each year, to do that event at this show. On Saturday, they will be there all day outside the arena, giving out awards."
Newby says the daily tattoo contests are open to the public to enter. A Best of Show winner will be named from the participating tattoo artists. Allen Spurlock of Monroe, La., 2017 Best of Show winner, will be back to defend his title.
"There are about seven categories every day that the public can enter. They don't have to have gotten their tattoos at the expo to enter," he explains.
But anyone who does get a tattoo at the expo can enter the Best of the Day category in the daily contests.
"Anybody can walk up, talk to an artist and get tattooed right there," he says.
Newby says among the participating tattoo artists will be one just featured on the TV show "Angels" and another was featured on "Ink Master" last year.
Tattanooga will be inside Camp Jordan Arena, while all around the Camp Jordan grounds will be VWs from all decades as part of Bug-a-Paluza. Any Bug-a-Paluza visitor who comes to the tattoo expo will receive a $5 discount on a one-day pass.
For more information: www.tattanoogaexpo.com