Three o’clock struck and there were already people lying down in temporary tattoo booths Friday afternoon to capture a permanent piece of the artistic talent housed at the Aquatic Center this weekend.

Jackie Leatherman/News-Herald Photo. Phoenix-based tattoo artist known as “Grimm” finishes a tattoo on 28-year-old Anthony Mirt, also from Phoenix, Friday afternoon.

Ashraf Hamideh, 21, said he came from California with his friends this weekend to attend the third annual Lake Havasu City Tattoo Show for the first time. He was one of the first ones in a chair when the event started at 3 p.m.

And for Hamideh, there was only one draw to the event: “to get a tattoo by a major artist.”

Kenneth Herring, from Heritage Tattoo in Murrieta, Calif., was finishing Hamideh’s tattoo Friday.

Wendie Laughlin came from Parker and was already shopping around the tattoo booths Friday afternoon for someone to finish one of her designs.

“I know there are some good, reputable people from out in California out here,” she said.

The event will last from noon to 10 p.m. today and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at 100 Park Ave. Tickets are $10 each day or $20 for the weekend days. Cash only is accepted at the door and an ATM is available at the Aquatic Center.

The High Rollers, a rockabilly band, will perform at 8 p.m. tonight.

Tattoo contests in different categories start at 6 p.m. today and at 3 p.m. Sunday. Entry is $5 and a sign-up sheet will be located near the entrance. Contestants can enter as many tattoos as they want. Women interested in entering the tattoo beauty contest need to sign up by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Roughly 38 vendors and an expected 152 artists will be housed at the center, the largest show in the event’s three years.

A listing of the contests, exhibiting tattoo shops and other event information is online at www.havasutattooshow.com.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com