![tattooer jojo ackermann at seaside tattoo show in ventura county fairgrounds](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-05-scaled.jpg)
The first-ever Ventura County Fair was held in 1874 at the conclusion of the local San Miguel Days agricultural festival; 149 years later, Christina Diaz organized the 5th Seaside Tattoo Show at the Fairgrounds in a Quonset hut named San Miguel. The Pacific Ocean is so close to this venue that it can be heard from the parking lot. From June 9 to June 11, over a hundred tattoo artists set up in booths. Hypnatic designed this year’s event poster, and special guests included Charlie Cartwright, Robert Atkinson, Jojo Ackermann, and Dave Koenig. Big Hoon, a Sullen family member, served as MC and host. Wade Titus’ triple-day bio-organic back tattoo and Angel Pineda-Rodriguez’s black-and-grey Mexica arm piece were among the show’s highlights.
Diaz, who was courteous and attentive to everyone, organized the three-day show in a family-friendly manner. The event was enjoyable because it felt like you were back in the days of The Pike, carnival-like with sideshows and more organic than some of the larger metropolis conventions. Future years may bring more tattoo legends and artists who create large-scale work to Seaside.
Jojo Ackermann, co-owner of Ten Thousand Waves studio, has been tattooing for more than three decades.
![ash robinson tattooing on client's stomach](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-20.jpg)
Ash Robinson, an apprentice at Black Orchid, has a rad sense of fashion.
![demaon tattoo on stomach](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-21.jpg)
Ash Robinson tattooed a demon in blackwork on a client’s abdomen.
![legend robert atkinson doing japanese floral tattoo](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-32.jpg)
Legend Robert Atkinson executed a Japanese floral tattoo.
![tattooer karen haze producing a rose tattoo on neck](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-25.jpg)
By Karen Haze, a rose in a prominent area on the neck, rendered in fine line.
![wade titus creating a bio-organic back tattoo](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-29.jpg)
South California-based tattooist Wade Titus worked tirelessly on a three-day artwork.
![largescale bio-organic back tattoo in color](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-26.jpg)
The full bio-organic back piece by Wade Titus.
![tattooer Jbad at seaside tattoo show](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-33.jpg)
Jbad is on a hot streak at the Seaside Tattoo Show.
![black and grey mexica tattoo art](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-19.jpg)
Angel Pineda-Rodriguez creates lovely Mexica black-and-grey art.
![sideshow performer with clown makeup](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-24.jpg)
One of the sideshow performers.
![Jeremy Hanna from sullen](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-15.jpg)
Jeremy Hana, the co-founder of Sullen, receives a collaborative tattoo from Jojo Ackermann and Robert Atkinson.
![mermaid back tattoo by dave koenig](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-30.jpg)
A composition by Dave Koenig depicting a mermaid will begin on the back and proceed down the limb.
![fine line floral tattoo on leg by manny lorenzana](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-03.jpg)
Close-up of flowering work by Manny Lorenzana.
![seaside tattoo show organizer Christina diaz](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-11.jpg)
Christina Diaz is the event’s organizer.
![good time charlie cartwright with grandsons at seaside tattoo show in ventura county](https://scene360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seaside-tattoo-show-14.jpg)
A rare capture of Good Time Charlie Cartwright’s grandsons, Henry on the left and August on the right.
Photos by The Tattoo Journalist, © Scene360