MANSFIELD — Tens of thousands flocked to the Ohio State Reformatory this weekend to attend the annual Ink in the Clink event.

Organizer Rick Fields estimated a total of 6,000 attendees on Saturday and 11,000 for the weekend, which featured more than 100 tattoo artists, several tattoo contests, dozens of headlining bands and a sneak peak of OSR’s new haunted attraction, Blood Prison.

He expects that number to be even higher after Sunday’s final day of festivities. As he was speaking, even more people were funneling through the entrance to hear Three Days Grace, which performed at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

“I try to do something that puts Mansfield on the music map and draws a crowd to the Reformatory,” Fields said.

The owner of Whiskey Warehouse and a tattoo artist for more than 25 years, Fields said he has the event to promote artists of all kinds. It began at the Holiday Inn in downtown Mansfield, but almost immediately outgrew the space.

He says OSR can better accommodate the large crowds.

“Every year, it keeps growing and growing,” Fields said.

Ink in the Clink has taken place at the Ohio State Reformatory the past three years.

Chris Hamer, of Georgia, came to his first Mansfield event this weekend. He’s a part-time tattoo artist for Diligent Lobotomy Tattoo, but a full-time artist.

“I’m here selling my art,” he said. “I heard good things about Mansfield.”

He had two tables with his art displayed.

Guests could also preview the Reformatory’s new Halloween attraction, Blood Prison.

Between 400 to 500 people went through the preview haunt on Friday, according to OSR event and social media coordinator Dan Smith.

The full experience will be available from Sept. 29 to Nov. 5.

Haunt Manager Vic Amesquita says it includes plenty of misdirects, good gory visuals and jump scares.

“We are really excited and honored to preview our brand-new haunted attraction, Blood Prison, at this year’s Ink in the Clink,” he said in a prepared statement. “Rick and Susan Fields are great people to work with and have created such a cool and unusual event that will draw thousands of visitors to Mansfield.”

This is the first time OSR has set up a haunt to go with Ink in the Clink.

The event continues from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 15. Tickets are available online at inkintheclink.com. Single-day passes are $55 per person.