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For those who tend to be superstitious, Friday the 13th has heavy associations with bad luck and all things spooky, even when it falls in the middle of March, as it will this Friday. But for tattoo enthusiasts, the pseudo-holiday is a perfect excuse to get inked up.
This tradition began right here in Dallas and has since become a nationwide trend. In 2008, celebrity tattoo artist Oliver Peck of Elm Street Tattoo started it by tattooing the number 13 on as many people as he could within 24 hours. Moms across the country haven’t known peace since.
Though it’s often a semiannual occasion, this Friday, March 13, already marks the second (of three!) in 2026. It’s also a rare back-to-back monthly event, with the most recent one just happening in February. So, if you’ve been feeling the itch to get something done, now is the time.
Here are some of the local shops participating this year.
Elm Street Tattoo
2811 Elm St.
Obviously, right? The studio that started it all is hosting another 24-hour marathon, this time with over 200 flash tattoos available for $20 each. While walk-ins are welcome, we suggest signing up the day before to guarantee a spot. Expectedly, the line gets long at this one. More information can be found on Elm Street Tattoo’s website.
Cat Tattoo
4544 Beltline Road, Addison
If you’re using Friday the 13th as an excuse to get a slightly larger, more detailed piece, Cat Tattoo has you (and wherever you want the tattoo) covered. The shop’s artists have each created flash sheets in their respective unique styles; prices range by artist and size. It’s not the in-and-out experience other studios offer, but it’s still a great deal for beautiful tattoos from veteran artists. No walk-ins will be accepted for this event. Appointments can be made on Cat Tattoo’s website.
Mother’s House
2512 Oak Lawn Ave.
Of course, our pick for Best Tattoo Shop in the 2025 Best of Dallas awards is coming in heavy-handed this Friday. The woman-owned studio tucked into Oak Lawn is offering several sheets of gorgeously sweet flash, among other female-centered services. Even sweeter? They’ll have themed, complimentary drinks. If you need help deciding what to etch into your skin, a tarot reader will also be on site for this one. Prices range from $60 to $200.
Jane Doe Tattoos and Piercings
4153 Commerce St.
Tucked into Fair Park, Jane Doe is making a whole thing of it. From noon to 8 p.m., the shop is offering flash that starts at $60, plus free piercing when you buy gold jewelry, and nostalgic, photo-booth-esque glamour shots from Dixieland Ghost Photography. Get there early, because Jane Doe is only taking walk-in appointments.
Marigold Tattoo
1300 S Polk St., No.193
If you prefer to stay within the confines of Oak Cliff, Marigold Tattoo is the move. The shop’s flash offers the usual Friday the 13th-themed art, but also boasts whimsical designs like butterflies and foliage. If you’ve ever described something as “so Lana Del Rey vinyl vibes,” bookmark this shop. While you wait your turn, you can browse through the slate of vintage, art and macrame pop-ups available. Walk-ins are welcome here, but your best bet is to make an appointment.
Bat and Cave Tattoo
1511 S. Ewing Ave.
For 12 hours straight, noon to midnight, Bat and Cave Tattoo will be slinging tiny tats to fit all needs and desires. From American traditional classics to a punk rock cow to more finely detailed realism, all bases are covered here, really.
Singleton Tattoo
437 Singleton Blvd.
Singleton Tattoo in Trinity Groves is needling together just about every type of art style. For $100, you can pick anything from their flash sheets, which range from Pokémon to swans and sushi rolls. Starting at 5 p.m., Six o Two Tacos will be there to serve up snacks if the wait gets long. We recommend trying to secure an appointment, though. If you’d rather stay up late on Thursday (early bird catches the… ink?), the shop will open at midnight Friday for a few hours, then reopen at 10 a.m. and stay open until midnight Saturday.
Welcome Stranger Tattoo
1918 Skillman St.
Lakewood’s Welcome Stranger Tattoo is bringing in a slate of guest artists just for this special day. And in an effort to avoid long wait times, they’re doing a sign-up system on a first-come, first-served basis. From noon to midnight, you can scratch a cowboy boot or an eightball on your ass for $100. Or, if you want to make mom cry a little less, perhaps a modest little cross.
Dark Age Tattoo Studio
124 W. Oak St., Denton
Out at the Downtown Denton Square, Dark Age is throwing a tattoo pizza party. If you love pizza that much, you can not only get a slice tattooed (sure, we guess) but you can also snack on a slice while you wait, as the shop is giving away free pizza while it lasts. Millennials and elder Gen Z-ers might appreciate this one best, as the shop’s flash includes characters from shows like Lizzie McGuire, Powerpuff Girls and SpongeBob Squarepants. Walk-ins are welcome, but so are appointments.
Friday the 13th Pop-up at Reunion Tower
300 Reunion Blvd. E.
Local artist Jossy Blaze is taking over “the ball” for tattoos with a view. From the top of Reunion Tower, you can get iconic city emblems like the tower itself, the traveling man robot in Deep Ellum and a pegasus. Local vendors and a DJ will also be there for this one-of-a-kind, Dallas-as-hell experience, which runs from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Good Pain Artworks
112 NE 4th St., Grand Prairie
From 3 p.m. to midnight, Good Pain is doing flash that ranges from $40-80, and if you’re feelin’ lucky, you can splurge on green ink for an extra $10. This one is strictly for walk-ins and is for arms and legs only, so save that tramp stamp idea for another time. Check out their flash sheets below.
