GREAT ESCAPE: Baltimore’s Tattoo Arts Convention

You’ll definitely want to leave the kids at home for this one.

This weekend, April 8 to 10, Baltimore is hosting its annual Tattoo Arts Convention.

Starting on Friday at 2 p.m., you can come on down to the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel at 101 West Fayette Street, and get an eyeful of inked-up and pierced members of America's colorful counterculture.

Or, if you're a member of the colorful club yourself, you can get another tattoo. 

Tattoo artists from as far away as California, New York, Florida and Colorado will be offering their professional services. This is your chance to get a few flowers inked onto your ankle or your mother's name on your upper arm. Musicians, dancers and performance artists will be entertaining the crowds, if checking out all the ink isn't enough. 

One celebrity tattoo artists, Amy Nicoletto from TLC's reality show LA Ink, will be at the show, tattooing, signing autographs and taking pictures. 

If you’re actually a tattoo professional, or have a secret dream to become one, there are several seminars you can register for to learn the ins and outs of microdermal anchor piercings, tattoo composition, lighting, texture and color. You can also buy tattoo equipment.

Looking hardcore is half the fun. Tattooed, pierced or not, shop the vendors selling motley clothing, pewter skull jewelry and leather cuffs.

For those taking the plunge and getting some permanent art, there is a contest each day for the best tattoo. Most Unusual, Best Portrait and Best Cover-Up (before and after photos required) are some of the categories.

Tickets prices are $20 for the day and $40 for the weekend.

With all the bare arms and legs showing off their dragons, mermaids, flowers, tribal designs and Japanese Kanji characters, you can always sneak a closer look. In the social circles of the well-tattooed, it’s okay to stare!

Hours:

Friday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday noon to 10 p.m.
Sunday noon to 8 p.m.

Website:

http://www.tattooedkingpin.com

For advance weekend pass tickets, click here.