Festival Info

  • Inkcarceration is an outdoor event.
  • Line-up, schedule and set times are subject to change.
  • All Inkcarceration passes come with free admission to tour the famous Ohio State Reformatory & admission to the Tattoo Convention throughout the weekend.
  • Download our official festival app on Android or iPhone! UPDATED APP AVAILABLE IN EARLY JULY!

Location

The Ohio State Reformatory
100 Reformatory Rd
Mansfield, OH 44905

Festival Map

General FAQs

The Ohio State Reformatory is the home of Inkcarceration Festival and is located in Mansfield, OH. Mansfield is centrally located approximately an hour from Cleveland, Columbus, and Canton/Akron, Ohio.  If you are camping, see our Camping Info HERE.  If you are driving to the festival and need parking or taking a taxi/ride share, see our Parking Info HERE.
 
There are two parking lots located near the festival grounds the “Green Lot” and the “Orange Lot”. Parking passes are available for the weekend purchase or single day.  All advanced parking pass purchasers will receive a vehicle “Hang Tag” in advance of the show which will include detailed directions to the purchased parking lot pass based on the direction you are traveling from. 

Inkcarceration is a rain or shine event, however, there are several instances in which the festival may be paused, evacuated, or canceled due to inclement weather, including (but not limited to): severe thunderstorms, lightning in our festival radius, excessive wind, hail, flooding, or as directed by local emergency personnel. We recommend fans review our Health & Safety page, so you can be best prepared to get to safety in the event of inclement weather.

This is an all ages event. All attendees are required to purchase a full price ticket, regardless of age. We strongly encourage parents to bring hearing protection for their children.

Re-entry into the festival is not permitted unless you are camping and have a camping wristband. Once you have entered the venue each day, you will not be allowed to leave and come back in. Please plan accordingly. If there is an emergency and you must leave, please speak to a supervisor at the gate. 

We work with Living The Dream Foundation, a great company that will do their best to accommodate these special fans when possible. They will screen all requests and reach out if there is an opportunity! Find out more and to contact LTD Foundation HERE.

Lost & Found is located at the Info Booth which is near the festival entrance. In addition to visiting the Info Booth on-site, there will be a link available on our website and festival mobile app during show days to search our found items database to see if your lost item has been turned in or submit a claim for your lost item. Post-show Lost & Found location will be shared on our social media during the show weekend.

A full schedule with set times will be posted about two weeks before the show via our socials and mobile app.

Gate times are TBD and will be announced closer to the event. Usually gates open between 11am-Noon, however, this is subject to change.

Yes. Beer, wine and mixed drinks will be sold to those 21 or older with a valid government issued photo ID.

We will have lockers available for rent on site in both GA and VIP areas. Lockers measure 8”H x 12”W x 18”D and include a universal phone charger. Lockers are available to reserve currently, HERE.

Breastfeeding mothers can come by the Info Booth/Access Center located near the main entrance of the festival.  It is not private, so be prepared to bring in any cover you will need to feel comfortable. You can bring items necessary to pump into the venue (pump, small soft-sided cooler, ice packs, cover) however, we are not responsible for loss or damage of any items brought inside.  If you have any questions feel free to reach out to access@inkcarceration.com.

FAHNTOOSH

Want to volunteer? Help our Inkcarceration patrons with Fahntoosh Enterprises in exchange for your admission to the three-day event.

Volunteer positions will include:

  • Access Center – distributing ADA Access wristbands and answering questions from patrons with disabilities.
  • Access Platforms – staffing the viewing platforms to host the ADA patrons.
  • Info Booth/Lost & Found – staff the info booth answering questions from patrons and assisting with the Lost & Found program.


Submit your volunteer application today, HERE.
Read more about Fahntoosh HERE.

CLEAN VIBES
Rock hard, recycle harder! We are excited to have Clean Vibes join us at Inkcarceration this year.  Clean Vibes is accepting volunteers to help with the cleanup and recycling effort in exchange for admission to the festival – a refundable deposit is required. Submit your volunteer application today, HERE
 
Additional volunteering opportunities will be announced in early 2024! 

We are not currently accepting fan or band submissions for signed artists. If you have an unsigned band, we have an amazing way to get on our radar via the DWPresents channel on Twitch.  That Space Zebra show runs contests year round to help us find the best unsigned bands for a chance to play a DWP Festival.  Submit an application today HERE.

Yes. Hotel + Admission packages are currently available to purchase, HERE.

If you are interested in becoming a food vendor at Inkcarceration 2024, please apply HERE. Please note the application is available from a desktop computer only and not phone. We recommend filling out using the Chrome internet browser. We are not currently accepting marketplace vendor applications at this time.

Exact COVID-19 safety protocol will be shared closer to the event adhering to the then-current guidelines of local, state, and national health officials. Preventative health measures (i.e. proof of negative COVID-19 test or COVID-19 vaccination, etc.) may be required for the festival.  Protocols will be communicated as early as possible and are subject to change at any time. Refunds and chargebacks will not be accepted in a result of any COVID protocol implemented.

Tattoo Info

If you would like to be considered as a tattoo artist for 2024, please apply HERE.

Artists are listed on our Tattoo Experience page along with links to their work and contact info. All booking is done directly with the attending tattoo artists so you will want to contact them as early as possible to schedule. For info on each participating artist and their work you can contact them directly through our tattoo page HERE.  Tattoo appointments only available for ages 18+. Parental consent is not accepted for underage fans.

It is not a necessity to schedule ahead of time, but if you want more of a choice on who you work with it’s a smart idea. For info on each participating artist and their work you can contact them directly through our tattoo page HERE.  

No. You must have an admission pass to Inkcarceration, in order to get a tattoo or attend the tattoo convention.

Allowed / Not Allowed Items

Please be advised that there will be elevated security measures in place for Inkcarceration.  Please carefully check the list of prohibited items and arrive very early to allow extra time for screening.  All entrances will have metal detectors; please plan accordingly.  

*** WE DO NOT PROVIDE ON-SITE STORAGE FOR PROHIBITED ITEMS. ***

  • CELLPHONES & SMALL PORTABLE CHARGERS
  • SUNSCREEN (NON-AEROSOL)
  • ONE FACTORY-SEALED BOTTLE OF WATER (20 OZ. MAX SIZE) OR ONE EMPTY PLASTIC REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE (NO HYDROFLASKS OR YETIS)
  • BINOCULARS
  • TOWELS AND LIGHT BLANKETS-NOTE: BLANKETS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS FOR SAFETY REASONS.
  • CAMELBACKS / HYDRATION BACKPACKS (EMPTY, UP TO 1.5LT, LIMIT 2 POCKETS)
  • SMALL, POINT-AND-SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERA
  • HATS AND SUNGLASSES
  • EARPLUGS
  • SEALED PACKS OF CIGARETTES & CIGARS
  • VAPE PENS & E-CIGARETTES
  • WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT BRING BAGS OF ANY SORT. IF YOU MUST BRING A BAG, PLEASE ABIDE BY OUR BAG POLICY BELOW:
  • NO LARGE BAGS, BACKPACKS, OR DUFFLE BAGS – SEE BAG POLICY IN ALLOWED ITEMS
  • NO COOLERS OR PICNIC BASKETS
  • NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR BEVERAGES – EXCEPTION: ONE FACTORY-SEALED BOTTLE OF WATER (20 OZ. MAX SIZE)
  • NO METAL CONTAINERS (EX. YETIS OR HYDROFLASKS)
  • NO GLASS CONTAINERS
  • NO STROLLERS
  • NO VIDEO CAMERAS OR GOPROS
  • NO AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES
  • NO LAPTOPS OR TABLETS
  • NO PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS OR CAMERAS WITH REMOVABLE LENSES
  • NO SELFIE STICKS
  • NO LASERS OR LASER POINTERS
  • NO DRONES
  • NO CHAIRS OF ANY KIND – INCLUDING INFLATABLE LOUNGER AIR SOFAS
  • NO UMBRELLAS
  • NO HULA HOOPS OR TOTEMS 
  • NO BALLOONS OR BEACH BALLS
  • NO CONFETTI OR GLOW STICKS
  • NO AEROSOL CANS
  • NO WHISTLES OR AIR HORNS
  • NO FIREWORKS OR EXPLOSIVES
  • NO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF ANY KIND
  • NO WEAPONS OF ANY KIND
  • NO DRUGS OR DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
  • NO PETS (WITH EXCEPTION OF SERVICE ANIMALS)
  • NO COLORS OR PATCHES
  • NO CHAINS, CHAIN WALLETS, OR SPIKES
  • NO UNAUTHORIZED VENDING OR ADVERTISING
  • NO WALKIE TALKIES/TWO WAY RADIOS
 
Your safety is our number one concern, so these items are also subject to change at any time and at the discretion of the security staff.
Outside food and drink are not allowed inside the festival, but if you have a special medical dietary restriction, enough food for the one person for the day will be allowed. Fans are allowed to bring their medically necessary materials and medications into the festival, provided that all medicine has a prescription label with the fan’s name. Medicines needing to be inhaled, vaporized, or smoked are prohibited unless in a prescribed inhaler. Please note: Drugs of any kind (incl. cannabis, cannabis products) are prohibited.
 
Staff at the entry gates will verify the contents of any medically necessary materials. Out of concern for the festival staff who handle the trash, please dispose of your medical waste and syringes in the proper disposal, which is located at the medical tent. Please do not dispose of these items in other trash bins at the festival. Please direct any further questions to access@inkcarceration.com.

Cashless FAQs

Yes, you can still use your credit or debit card at any point of sale terminal.

Credit and debit Card payments will be accepted in addition to RFID wristband, Tap to Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Both card payments and RFID wristbands will be accepted by all food and beverage vendors, and merchandise tents. The only areas that will accept cash will be the Tattoo Expo (where cash ATM’s are located), and outside the festival such as the campgrounds. 

Yes! We will have reverse ATMs on site, for you to exchange your cash into a prepaid Mastercard. There is a $5 minimum and $500 maximum transaction, with a $4.95 fee per card.

While cash is not accepted inside the venue, cash will still be accepted in day of show parking lots.

Our General Stores in camping and the Box Office will be cashless. We will have reverse ATMs nearby for your use! If you are needing your RV pumped out, they will only accept cash.

When using a reverse ATM, you will be issued a card which works as a Mastercard Gift Card, which can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.