Whitby was transformed into a weird wonderland this weekend as hordes of people donned Gothic, Steampunk and downright macabre costumes to celebrate the town’s Goth Weekend.
This was the second Whitby Goth Weekend of the year – with the first taking place in April – and the streets were packed with people wearing all manner of ghoulish outfits in what has become something of an institution for the town.
Whitby has strong links to the Gothic culture, with Bram Stoker’s iconic Dracula novel being famously inspired by the writer’s stay in the town.
And there was no shortage of vampiric characters paying homage to the legend of Dracula on Sunday (October 30).
Among those dressing the part was Lisa Raine who had travelled from Consett for the Goth Weekend.
She said: “I have been coming for many years and it has definitely got better over the years.
“I think more people are hearing about it now and I just love all the shopping and all the costumes; it is just fantastic.”
Chris Kurdelski and Shane Lund were manning the Pocklington-based Nidhoggr Mead Co. stall in the Bizarre Bazaar that took over Whitby Leisure Centre for the long weekend.
Chris said: “It’s been busy and it has gone really, really well – we have really enjoyed it.
“Outside of it being good for business, it has been fun as well.”
It was a first taste of Whitby Goth Weekend For Deb Hagland of the Skegness firm Wicked Fudge and she said she’d be returning.
Deb said: “It’s been very busy, it’s definitely been worth the trip and we’ll be back in April.
“It’s a lovely event with lovely people and there’s all the beauty of Whitby to enjoy as well.”
Melanie Metcalfe-Thompson and Matthew Thompson of the Nocturne gothic stall have been coming to the event since it first started in the mid-1990s.
They have noticed that it has become ‘more of a fancy dress affair’ than its original roots in the Gothic music scene.
Melanie said: “It has been busy but there are not as many actual Goths as there used to be.
“This is our culture, I dress like this everyday and don’t have any normal clothes.
"We are Gothic 24/7 but I think some people just see it as a chance to get their fancy dress outfits on.
“It’s great for the hoteliers but not so great for the real Goths as they don’t see it as their event anymore.”
One group who were certainly attracting attention in the town centre were members of the Whitby Krampus Run team.
Dressed head-to-toe as the terrifying Krampus - a horned figure from Alpine folklore - they made for a spectacular sight and will be back in the town for the Whitby Krampus Run on December 3 and 4.
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