By Kate DeConinck
Contributor

Jon Thomas is the owner of Spider-Bite in Manchester. The tanning, piercing, tattoo and hair salon is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a party on Saturday, Aug. 5, at its 435 Elm St. location. (Mirror/Bruce Preston)

Spider-Bite, a local tanning, piercing, tattoo and hair salon, plans to celebrate 10 years of business with a party from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, rain or shine.

Opened in 1996 as the first tattoo shop in Manchester, Spider-Bite has continually made headlines under the ownership of Jon Thomas. In September 2000, Spider-Bite and Thomas were registered in the Guinness Book of World Records for setting the record for the most piercings completed on one person in a 3-hour sitting.

Since the shop was opened, Thomas has seen quite a few changes in the body piercing/modification industry and how it is perceived by the community.

“The business has become much more acceptable to the public now,” Thomas said. “Before, most people probably wouldn’t hire someone with a lot of piercings.”

Thomas has certainly done his part to change negative associations with piercings, engaging in a variety of community and charity activities and appearing on the radio. He said Spider-Bite’s clientele has also evolved over time.

“Now, we see doctors and nurses and parents ­ people you might not expect­ coming in,” Thomas said. “Eighty percent of the clients we have are college-age girls, not biker types like most people expect.”

Thomas believes the business and public perception of body modification overall has matured in the past 10 years.

Spider-Bite expects 2,000 to 3,000 people to attend its anniversary party, which will be held at the salon, 435 Elm St., Manchester. Attendees will find an assortment of entertainment throughout the day, including a live Rock 101 Remote with Quinn and Cantara. Ill Minded Racing, a motorcycle stunt team, will perform, as will DJ PB Kidd.

Live music will come from Manchester groups Trashlight Vision, Angry Hill, Vegas Temper, I, Jonny Stonez and Heartless Kings.

There will be a variety of free activities and gifts. Seacoast Career Schools will give massages, Down ’n Dirty Bar-B-Q will provide food for the event, and there will be a 50 percent off red tag sale.

Additionally, attendees will find a beer garden, a rock climbing wall and a bikini car wash. There will also be the chance to walk away with one of many raffles, giveaways or prizes, including tickets to concerts, Red Sox games and NASCAR events.

Following the celebration, there will be an after-party at the Spyder Room. Tickets will be available for public purchase. All profits from the party and after-party will benefit the Desert Storm Memorial Drive and the Massachusetts Soldier’s Legacy Fund.

For more information, visit theSpider-Bite site at www.spiderbiteradio.com. If you have any questions or would like to purchase tickets to the after-party, call 645-1449.