📆 Friday, August 16th – Sunday, August 18th
🕓 Friday: 2 pm – 10 pm
🕓 Saturday: 12 pm – 10 pm
🕓 Sunday: 12 pm – 8 pm
🎟 Tickets start at $30
📍 Seattle Center Exhibition Hall: 301 Mercer St, Seattle
The summer brings lots of tattoo inspiration—whether it’s from shirtless people at the beach or shorter sleeves worn by everyone on the bus, this season is the time to contemplate your own body decoration. Luckily, the Seattle Tattoo Expo is back this August, bringing tattoo artists from across the nation and globe.
Over 250 tattooers from the United States, Canada, and Europe will be on deck at the Expo this year. Featured tattoo artists include Vyvyn Lazonga, AKA “Seattle’s First Lady of Tattoo,” and Big Gus from Tattoo Nightmares. With a ticket purchase, anyone over 18 can schedule an appointment, as long as the session lasts within the hours of the Expo itself and the tattoo artist is available. In some cases, walk-ins are accepted. Prices vary per artist, so be sure to reach out to an artist beforehand. (There’s a full list of artists here.)
If getting a tattoo isn’t your bag this time around, there’s plenty of other stuff to check out. Vendors like Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop and Indulge Massage Therapy will be on deck for your oddity and massage needs, while food vendors like Badger Coffee and Dumpling Tzar will fill your belly. Burleskaraoke, hosted by Ruby Mimosa, is also back—the popular event invites attendees to sing karaoke while burlesque performers striptease to the singing. An incredible idea. If you’d rather just watch burlesquers do their thang, both Friday and Sunday you can watch them tease in the Tattoo Expo Burlesque Revue.
For those who’d like to show off the ink they’ve got, the Expo is running a tattoo contest. There are 13 categories to submit in: Small Color, American Traditional, Black and Grey, Portrait, Worst Tattoo, Body Suit, Large Black and Grey, Funniest Tattoo, Large Color, Sleeve, and daily Best of Shows. Entries at $15. Good luck!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16th
2 pm Doors Open
4 pm Best Small Color
5 pm Best American Traditional
6 pm Best Black and Grey
7 pm Deejay Hershe
8 pm The Tattoo Expo Burlesque Revue
9 pm Best of Show
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th
12 pm Doors Open
3 pm Best Portrait
4 pm The Tattoo Expo Burlesque Revue
5 pm Worst Tattoo
6 pm DJ Baby Van Beezly
7 pm Best Back or Bodysuit
8 pm BurlesKaraoke
9 pm Best of Show
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18th
12pm Doors Open
1:15pm Best Large Black and Grey
2:15pm Funniest Tattoo
3:15 pm Best Large Color
4 pm DJ Baby Van Beezly
5 pm Best Sleeve
6 pm The Tattoo Expo Burlesque Revue
7pm Best of Show
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