COSTUME CODE OF CONDUCT:

At the discretion of the Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival Organizers and Security onsite, the following may be allowed:

• Lightweight Plastic/PVC Props/Light Sabers
• Toy guns as long as they do not look like real ones, cannot function or shoot projectiles and have an orange tip on the barrel.  The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-colored caps. 

If any of the above items are deemed unsafe by the Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival Security, they will not be allowed inside the building. They will only be allowed as long as they are deemed safe and will not cause harm onsite.

If you’re bringing something that could maim, damage or cause bodily harm, we’re going to take issue.

The following items are forbidden at the Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival and the Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival Costume Contest:

• Functional firearms (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns)
• Realistic replica firearms (including reproduction, fake or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms)
• Functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons and water guns)
• Sharpened metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatches, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes and switch blades)
• Explosives (including firecrackers and fireworks)
• Chemical weapons
• Blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs and nunchaku)
• Hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, fiberglass, PVC, wood and glass)
• Instruments that cause excessive noise levels like vuvuzelas, grenade whistles and grenade horns
• Whips
• Drones

Weapons and Bag Check

Management shall have sole discretion in any matter that it believes may affect public safety or be important to protect the integrity of the event.

Costuming/Cosplay Is NOT CONSENT: Please keep your hands to yourself. If you would like to take a picture with or of another Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival attendee, always ask first and respect that person’s right to say no. When at the Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival, be respectful, be nice, be cool, and be kind to each other.

The Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival is an all-ages, family event. Please be aware and respectful of your surroundings and audience. 

The Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival Management and Security have the right to allow or deny any costuming or props. Failure to comply with the instruction of Management and the  aforementioned rules and guidelines will result in your removal from the festival.