
The 23rd Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival ran from April 3 to April 5, 2023 at the Sonesta Nashville Airport in Tennessee. This three-day event merged tattoo conventions with horror movie fandom, drawing collectors and fans to the hotel ballroom near Nashville International Airport. The festival occupied the Sonesta Nashville Airport's event spaces, located about 15 minutes from downtown Nashville. This venue choice made sense for an event that attracts regional visitors from across the Southeast and Midwest, with easy access to BNA airport terminals and interstate highways. The airport location meant attendees could fly in and out without navigating downtown traffic. Attendees found rows of vendor booths selling tattoo supplies, horror memorabilia, and artwork. Tattoo artists worked on clients throughout the weekend, with many offering walk-up appointments for smaller pieces. The horror festival component included screenings, panels, and appearances related to genre films, distinguishing this from standard tattoo conventions. Vendors displayed original movie props, posters, and limited edition merchandise alongside tattoo equipment. Nashville's tattoo scene has grown alongside its music industry reputation. The city supports dozens of shops ranging from traditional American work to fine-line black and grey styles. This convention reflected that diversity while adding the horror element that Full Moon Features (the film company) brings to the partnership. Local Nashville artists participated alongside traveling tattooers from neighboring states. The event offered day passes and weekend passes. Parking was available at the hotel lot, though attendees often used rideshare services given the airport location. Nearby hotels included the Sonesta itself and several airport-area chains along Elm Hill Pike and Donelson Pike. The hotel provided restaurants and bars for attendees who wanted to stay on-site after the convention floor closed. This marked the 23rd edition of the festival, making it one of the longer-running tattoo events in the region. The combination of body art and horror cinema created a specific atmosphere that differed from mainstream conventions.
The 23rd Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival was a three-day tattoo convention and horror film event held April 3-5, 2023 at the Sonesta Nashville Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. The event featured live tattooing by regional and traveling artists, vendor booths selling supplies and horror memorabilia, and programming related to genre cinema. Attendees could book tattoo appointments or request walk-up work while exploring the crossover between tattoo culture and horror fandom. Nashville has developed a strong tattoo community over the past two decades, with shops concentrated in neighborhoods like East Nashville and The Gulch, making this convention a fixture in the city's annual calendar.
The event ran April 3-5, 2023 at the Sonesta Nashville Airport hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The venue sits near Nashville International Airport (BNA), about 8 miles east of downtown.
The event combined live tattooing with horror film culture. Tattoo artists worked on clients throughout the weekend while vendors sold equipment, artwork, and memorabilia. The horror festival component included screenings and guest appearances related to genre cinema.
Ticket information for future editions is typically announced through the event's official social media channels and tattoo convention listing sites. Past events offered single-day and full-weekend passes at the door or through advance online sales.
Bring government-issued photo ID, cash for deposits and merchandise, and reference images if booking tattoo work. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for sitting during tattoo sessions. The hotel venue offers climate control, but layers help for varying ballroom temperatures.
Yes. The convention environment allows new collectors to browse multiple artist portfolios in one location. Walk-up appointments for smaller tattoos were often available, though booking ahead through artist contact pages is recommended for larger pieces.