Tattoo Expo hits Cold Lake for the first time

By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeland This Week

With beer gardens, a live DJ, and artists from across Western Canada, the event transformed the venue into a vibrant showcase of art and expression. 

Marc Blanchette, coordinator of the Bombs Away Tattoo Expo and owner of Marc’d Up Tattoos in Lloydminster, said he was inspired to bring the event to Cold Lake after years of success elsewhere.  

“I had done the Lloydminster show for a couple of years. The show has been a huge success,” Blanchette explained. “So, I thought, you know what, somewhere like Cold Lake would be a really great place to take something like this. They have a really nice facility . . . I thought it would be a good opportunity.” 

Blanchette said the expo has grown significantly since it began, expanding from about 50 artists in its first year to a full roster of 100, with participants travelling from across western Canada, including B.C., Calgary, and Regina. 

This year’s event featured a range of competitions recognizing artists’ talents.  

“Throughout the show, we actually have lots of different categories to submit tattoos into,” Blanchette said, listing awards such as best colour, best portrait, and tattoo of the day. “You can do your tattoo at the show and then submit it into these different categories to try to win awards and essentially be recognized a little bit for all the hard work you put in.” 

He said what sets Bombs Away apart is the atmosphere.  

“The smaller shows kind of seem to be a little bit more welcoming to the artists. Gives that smaller town mentality and vibe,” he said. “Everyone’s a little bit closer knit and you can spend more time with each other, and they feel just more valued in general.” 

Visitors explored artist booths, shopped from vendors, and even got piercings on-site.  

Blanchette added that walk-in appointments were even available.  

“If you want to pick an artist that you like and you’ve researched and reached out to them, you can usually get a guaranteed spot with them,” he said. “But there is lots of artists here that have walk-up availability all weekend.” 

Blanchette said events like this help break stereotypes about tattoos, showing they’re a form of art and personal expression for everyone, while also bringing together a supportive and creative community. 

His experience hosting the expo in Cold Lake was overwhelmingly positive.  

“So far, my experience with having the event in Cold Lake has been absolutely phenomenal,” Blanchette said. “The Energy Centre here has bent over backwards to help make this event successful and honestly amazing. It looks beautiful in there, I can’t believe it. They did so good.” 

Blanchette said at its heart, the expo is about appreciation and connection.  

“Because you’re not only supporting the show, you’re supporting the artists. You’re supporting the community,” he said. “Honestly, I just want to help bring people together . . . It’s about creating a good community of people that we can both learn from, thrive from, grow, and learn together.”