Returning to Kelowna for its sixth year from July 20 to 22, is none other than the Okanagan Tattoo Show.
Though you may think the name of the event is self-explanatory, really, it just scratches the surface of all that it has to offer. Since its inception in 2013, the event has continued to blossom, branching out to bring in new and exciting elements each summer.
From craft beer and music to apparel, art and of course, tattoos, The Okanagan Tattoo Show is much more than a place get some ink.
Whether your body is a fully decorated canvas or you’re still a tattoo virgin and want to keep it that way, there are plenty of reasons you should check out the show — and here are just a few of them.
The most obvious reason anybody should attend this event has to be the incredible variety of talented tattoo artists you have access to.
With nearly 150 tattooists hailing from across Canada, the United States and even as far as Europe, the event provides you with the opportunity to get ink from someone you may not normally get the chance to, in almost any style you can imagine.
Browse the booths early on Friday to snag a slot with your dream artist and mark your skin with beauty you’ll get to adore forever!
First and foremost these talented tattooers are artists. Prior to marking up people, they used pencils and brushes instead of needles to express their artistic sides.
If you’re a lover of the creativity behind certain tattoo-styles but don’t want to commit, this is a great space to find unique artwork to display on your walls rather than your skin.
And for all you aspiring artists, you can even be lucky enough to learn from some of the pros, as two visiting artists will be hosting seminars throughout the convention.
Legendary portrait artist, Shawn Barber of Los Angeles, California, will be deconstructing his process of painting portraits on canvas as well as painting inanimate objects from reference. Throughout the three hour lesson, Barber will switch between demonstrations and active assistance.
For those who prefer pencil to paper, Multidisciplinary artist, Heather Mclean of Calgary, Alberta, will be hosting a graphite seminar on Saturday morning.
Attendees will learn tips and techniques to incorporate into their drawing skill set, as well as ways to draw inspiration during this three hour hands-on demonstration.
Click here, if you want to register!
In addition to being a three-day convention for all things tattoo and art-related, the Okanagan Tattoo Show is a full-blown music festival that will feature some incredible local talent and bigger names in Punk, Stoner Metal and Rock.
After adding bands to the roster in 2017, Organizer Terence Smith figured he would make it a tradition. “Rock and Roll and tattoos are so synonymous with each other, it’s a no-brainer to do this,” said Smith
Set to headline the three days are Teenage Bottlerocket, Red Fang and Kelowna’s own, The Wild!
Aside from these insane headliners, you can expect to headbang along with local up and comers as well, like Ancient Engines, Gardner, Drag, Charlie Handsome and the Brats, Frig Off, Psycherelics and many more.
To purchase weekend or day passes, click here!
You can’t have a concert without beer, and have no fear there will be plenty at this event.
Smith decided to bring in the element of craft brew since it is not only one of his favourite things, but a shared favourite with many others.
Bringing in 13 craft breweries from across the Okanagan and the rest of British Columbia, beer lovers can try the best ales, lagers, IPA’s and any other wild creation that can be found from the Kootney’s to the lower mainland.
The best part? You don’t have to savour just a small sample, two tokens will get you a full, chilled glass of your pick of the day. BrewFest runs from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday of the event.
Not only does the show boost our local economy by drawing in hundreds of visitors, but it also makes a point of giving back.
Victoria-based artist Gwendolyn Williams put her talents to work in creating the art behind the event’s 2018 poster, and you could be lucky enough to take it home.
The one-of-a-kind piece will be raffled off, with 10 prints also being sold, and a 50/50 raffle taking place to raise money for Hope Air, an organization that helps to alleviate the financial stress on families traveling to receive medical attention by providing flights or helping to cover costs.
Not only is this event one you can enjoy, but one the entire family can get on board with. Children are more than just welcome to tag along, but encouraged to!
Have them join you to feast their eyes on the incredible art, dance their little hearts out to some stellar music, join in on various games or even get their own ink to match at the fake tattoo airbrush station.
Why worry about the hassle of finding a sitter when you can enjoy some quality family time soaking in all the excitement?
Now that you’re successfully convinced, don’t miss out on this one of a kind event! The Okanagan Tattoo Show will once again conquer the Kelowna Curling Club in just over a week.
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