People line up for theCalgary Tattoo and Arts Festival at the BMO Centre on Friday. Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia

Trade shows and exhibiting events are exempt from gathering limits put forward by the province but must still adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions, such as physical distancing and masking.

According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), practices in place for the tattoo festival include electronic health screenings, temperature checks for all vendors, staff and tattoo clients, mandatory continuous masking, physical distancing measures and sanitizing stations.

In a statement, AHS said ticket sales are far below the maximum number of people allowed in the BMO Centre during the pandemic. They added that documentation will be maintained from attendees for contact tracing should positive cases arise.

Blackburn said trade shows are unique in their design and operation, which made it possible for them to adjust to pandemic protocols. Unlike a mall, for example, they were able to redesign their floor plan to expand walkways and spread booths out.

Steve Peace, owner of Immaculate Concept tattoo shop in Calgary, said people in the industry were already operating under strict health standards prior to the pandemic so it was an easy adjustment.

I personally dont think COVID-19 is going away for a long time at least another couple of years so we may as well get on with it and figure out how we can do this safely, Peace said.

I have all confidence. I wouldnt be here if I (thought) there was any chance of this being a super-spreader event or anything like that.

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'We have to start somewhere': Tattoo festival gets green light from health authorities - Calgary Herald