Whether you have tattoos from your head to your toes, or don't have one drop of ink under your skin, the Villain Arts Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention is an event everyone should experience at least once.
Held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, hundreds of tattoo artists, tattoo enthusiasts, and the tattoo curious will gather from Feb. 12 to 14 to celebrate the ancient art of tattooing.
Here's what you should know before you go.
Getting there
The convention kicks off at 2 p.m. on Friday and is open until midnight. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday's hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Event organizer, Villain Arts, has partnered with Parking Panda, an online parking reservation company, to ensure the best parking for convention goers.
Go to parkingpanda.com to compare options and reserve your spot. Use the confirmation you receive to get to your spot when you arrive at the garage. Parking Panda also has an app on iOS or Android free of charge.
Convention tickets are $22 per day or $45 for a three-day pass, and are only sold at the show. Children younger than 12 are admitted free of change.
If you decide to stay the night or the weekend in Philly, villainarts.com has a list of several nearby hotels, including the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on Market Street, the Hilton Garden Inn on Arch Street, and the Holiday Inn Express Midtown on Walnut Street.
Once you're there
While the ink is the major attraction, there is much more to experience during this three-day festival of artwork.
Getting a tattoo or watching an artist tattoo a friend is the main objective of attending the weekend-long show.
But there is live entertainment and music, as well as food, beverages, and vendors who carry everything from tattoo care kits to canvas paintings at this diverse event.
Get a tattoo
Hundreds of talented tattoo artists will bring their guns to this three-day event, and be on hand for scheduled appointments or customer walk-ups.
Artists will travel to Philly from all over the country, but one award-winning shop from the Garden State is sending three of their best to this year's convention.
Dan "Doodles" Ward, Carol "Cricket" Jacky, and Shawn "Ham" Hannon from Rorschach Gallery -- the Edison tattoo shop named NJ.com's Best Tattoo Shop in New Jersey -- will be attending.
Ward, co-owner of Rorschach Gallery, grew up in Piscataway and started tattooing in 2007. His tattoos aren't the only proof that he is a talented artist. Ward has degrees and certifications in cartooning, illustration, character design and more.
Jacky was raised in East Brunswick and developed her love of art by following her father's career in graphic art and "watching him work day and night on drawings."
Hannon began his tattooing career in South Jersey five years ago, and has been with Rorschach Gallery since 2014.
His love of art was encouraged by his high school art teacher who pushed him to hone his talents. Hannon continues to create images on canvas, as well as skin, using water colors and liquid acrylics most often.
For a list of all participating artists and shops, check here.
Take in the sights
The convention kicks off at 2 p.m. Friday when Kabukiman and Guttermouth rock the second stage.
Entertainment continues throughout the day with Olde City Sideshow at 6 p.m., the Whiskey Kitten Cabaret show at 9:15 p.m., and the Tattoo of the Day competition at 11 p.m. on the second stage.
Saturday is full of contests, excitement and bizarre entertainment.
At 5 p.m., gather at the second stage for various tattoo contests. Then at 8 p.m., get your victory rolls ready -- or your cameras just to get pictures of the beautiful ladies -- for the Pin-up contest, also at the second stage.
Later, at 11 p.m., the Tattoo of the Day contest happens on the second stage.
If it's the freakish and bizarre you're interested in, be sure to catch The Enigma -- internationally known performer who is tattooed from "horns" to toes -- at 3:15 and 9 p.m.
Comedy contortionist and daredevil, Alakazam the Human Knot, will take the stage at 8 p.m., leading up to a performance by Gisella Rose the Human Pincushion at 8:45 p.m.
Gisella Rose, known as the "Pain Proof Showgirl," drives needles through her own flesh, walks on glass, and hangs suspended from hooks through her skin, all for the love of entertaining her audience.
The Enigma comes back for one more performance on Sunday at 2 p.m. before the final round of tattoo contests at 5 p.m., and then the awarding of Best of Show at 7 p.m.
For a full scheduled and more information about the convention, visit villainarts.com.
Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.