SCRANTON -- Ink was flowing in Scranton, which means a lot of green for the Electric City.
The annual Electric City Tattoo Convention kicked off Friday evening at the Hilton on Adams Avenue, and it means big business for downtown shop owners.
It's the seventh year for the ever-growing event that brings in veteran tattoo-lovers to those just getting started.
“I've just been really into tattoos for like a really long time, and my first one was actually just three months ago so I'm just starting,” said Victoria Rinaldi of Throop.
“I'm getting a dragon to cover over an existing tattoo,” said Travis Helmer of Scranton.
156 tattoo artists on hand took over the hotel's second floor.
“I like that we reinforce the idea that Scranton being like a tattoo town, and I think it helps a lot of the other tattoo shops as well, you know,” said Elijah Birtel, an employee at Electric City Tattoo.
“Just to meet other tattooers and people interested in tattoos and art,” said Sean Addy, a tattoo artist from Port Jarvis, NY. “It's a great convention. This is the first year that I'm actually doing it.”
The event features way more than just tattoos.
“We added sword swallowers this year. We're doing the burlesque show again. We brought back the pin-up contest, and we added an art auction,” said organizer Woody Wodock.
Visitors can even get a quick trim from Loyalty Barber Shop.
“There's so many good things like local businesses, a lot of good tattooers. We've got a shop in Scranton and Archbald so we're expanding. There's just a lot of good growth for business and everything going on down here too,” said barber Shane Butler.
All this ink has Downtown seeing green.
“We put out little mini maps of the city where, letting a lot of these guys that aren't from here know where the restaurants are, where to get what they need, you know?” said Birtel.
One of those places is The Bog.
“What they bring to the area is a lot of great people. These guys coming -- guys and girls coming for few years now -- kind of made a nice relationship with them, ourselves, and it's a nice little boost to the city,” said owner Brian Craig.
The tattoo convention runs through Sunday. Tickets for admission are for sale.
