When you think of Llandudno with its gorgeous beaches, infamous ice creams and family orientated days out, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there isn’t much of an alternative scene going on in this seaside town. This is exactly what the organisers of the Cariad Ink Festival are trying to change this November and December.

If you look back on the Llandudno of years gone by, you’d seldom see anyone but a travelling sailor adorning some ink. Now though, there is a growing popularity and demand in modern culture for talented tattooists and this is something North Wales can proudly boast to have. Cariad Ink is set to highlight the best from the area and around the world.

Already an established event after a smaller occasion in the earlier part of 2013, tattoo fans are set to descend on Venue Cymru in their hundreds. February’s edition was a partly-charitable affair with some proceedings going towards research for Motor Neuron Disease, a true reflection on the collective spirit found in the Queen of Welsh Resorts. With £1500 kindly donated to the cause, organisers are set to build on their success and make it a more family-friendly occasion this time round.

Any tattooist worth their salt will be in attendance with so many booths being installed and snapped up by newcomers and old hands alike. There is talent from all over and they’re all on hand to tattoo either the avid or the new in one of the most relaxed atmospheres you can find.

For just £15 on Saturday, you’ll find yourself immersed in a truly brilliant day of ink, music and food with plenty of mementos available from the vendors. Local musicians such as the up and coming Cherry Tree Walk are due to take to the stage and bring the house down. The band have found fame after relentless and dedicated touring and are the ones to watch when they headline Saturday night.

Sunday brings with it a smaller-scale but don’t let that fool you – it will be just as brilliant as the previous day. For just £10, you can enjoy more live music as well as a thrilling performance from the North Wales Pole and Aerial Arts Academy before the overall winners of the tattoo competitions are announced.

All children under 12 can enjoy the whole event for free over the 30th of November and 1^st of December with weekend tickets coming in at a reduced £20.

If you’re looking to uncover some true tattooing talent, after ink of your own or just want to find out more about the alternative community, this festival is the one for you.

Save Me From the Robots by Cherry Tree Walk

“tattoo gun” by www.flickr.com/photos/curmudgeony/

License available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en_GB