Our guide to the Philadelphia Tattoo Convention

The sound of buzzing tattoo machines will fill the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch St.) from Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 15 for the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention. Beyond the tattooing and big-name guests, a number of seminars, parties and presentations are set for the three-day affair.

Get inked
Hundreds of international artists will be making their mark on willing participants all weekend. A-list inkers like "Ink Master" contestants Clint Cummings, Gentle Jay and Scott Marshall, Tim Pangburn from "America's Worst Tattoos" and Joey Tattoo from "Tattoo Rescue" are all slated to do their thing at the show.

Less notable, but no less talented, tattooists like Jay Freestyle, April Alayne, Matt Truiano, Shawn Patton and hundreds more.

Stay engaged
Other events taking place within the convention include brother and sister sideshow performers, The Olde City Sideshow (7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14), a burlesque and aerial suspension combination show from Raquel Reed and Smurfasaur (9:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14) and heavily tattooed performer The Enigma (8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15). It doesn't stop there, the full range of events continues through the show's hours.

Buy stuff
Vendors like tattoo and piercing care company H2Ocean, Zombie Caricatures (which sounds exactly like what you'd expect), Blacksheep Mumbles, who specialize in paintings, prints and accessories and local boutique Smak Parlour will have their goods up for purchase.

For tattooists
Top artists will speak on a number of topics like how to master watercolor tattooing (Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.) and even social media strategies (Sunday, Feb. 15 at noon).

Nothing like a little competition
Each day holds a number of contests like Tattoo of the Day, Best Portrait (in both color and black and gray), Most Unusual, size and location-based art and even best cover up. Not a tattoo-based competition, but a pinup contest will also happen at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14.

After the party is the after party
After doors close, keep the good times going.

The official Friday, Feb. 13 after party goes down at the Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) with tunes from Eat the Turnbuckle, Sparklefight and Cheerbleeders starting at 11:30 p.m. Garage (1231 East Passyunk Ave.) will have specials on Sailor Jerry on Friday, Feb. 13 for another after party. 

See what the new upstairs space at Franky Bradley's (1320 Chancellor St.) is about starting at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 with Sailor Jerry specials, free entry with convention wristband and music from DJ Ed Christof. Back at the Troc (1003 Arch St.) on Saturday, Feb. 14 is more tuneage from Antiseen, Hellstomper and Limecell.

Round out the convention with a full belly when Fogo de Chao (1337 Chestnut St.) offers dinner specials from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. If karaoke is more your style, the Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) will welcome the best amateur singers starting at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Hours
Convention hours are 2 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 14 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15.

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings.