There have been a few last minute changes to Saturday’s lineup because of recording commitments. It seems like The Last Dance are unable to attend but are to be replaced by Voltaire.

I’m sure that, as always, it will be a brilliant weekend of socialising, music, drinking, dancing and, of course,  shopping!

Whitby Goth Weekend 2011 Tickets

Weekend and day tickets can now be purchased directly from Whitby Pavilion’s website. Tickets will be dispatched immediately after purchase.

If you haven’t been to the weekend before, you’re in for a treat. If you have, maybe I’ll see you there!

Alan

However, it also seems like nobody has been buried in the churchyard for over 150 years.

What do you think? Is it disrespectable to the church and people’s graves? Have you been to the Goth Weekend?

The Whitby Goth Weekend was founded in 1994 and attracts all kinds of people with an ‘alternative’ take on life. This year’s weekend is running from the 4th to the 7th November. Find out more at http://www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk/.

Leave a comment and let our readers know what YOU think.

Alan

Also, there seems to be some confusion on the web with folks claiming that Whitby Gothic Weekend is happening 28th – 31st October or has been cancelled – NEVER!

THIS IS NOT TRUE.    That weekend is the Bram Stoker International Film Festival in the Spa Pavillion (being a film composer, I’d also recommend you check out that website too).

The OFFICIAL AND ORIGINAL Whitby Gothic Weekend (est. 1994) is definitely running as planned and is over the weekend of 3rd to 7th November.

Alan

Did you go?

Anyone recognise themselves or know someone in the pictures?

Yes?

Leave a message…

Looks like the dress code was up to its usual outrageously high standard!

Alan

Just in case you were unaware of the Goth phenomenon (and how big it is), here’s a great little video from The Culture Show exploring the finer aspects of Whitby’s Goth culture.

Find out what makes Goth’s come back to the town year after year after year…

From October 2006 Whitby Gothic Weekend

FISH & CHIPS at Whitby Goth Weekend Festival 2008

Our original song/video about Whitby Goth Weekend / Festival.

Featuring beautiful goth girls in Whitby.

We used to be goths by the way, so don’t take offense if you are a goth. Meant to be a celebration of black stuff & all things gothy in a mick-taking sort of way…didn’t want to be too sycophantic.

Oh & just for the record, the section where Chris (the singer) says; “full of f**king clowns” was a reference to the town of Middlesbrough as we were discussing the location of Blaises nightclub as we ad libbed the song. It wasn’t a reference to Goths or the village of Whitby.

It’s unfortunate that I had to edit out the bit about Boro that followed (as the song was getting too long) & it sounds like he’s referring to Whitby as I edit back in.

The first video takes you through a tour of Bram Stoker’s Whitby and links the novel to places in the town.

The second video is an amusing look at the Whitby Goth Weekend (it really is quite insane!).

Two contrasting videos showing thet there really is something for everybody on the Yorkshire Coast!

Enjoy.

Dracula tour

whitby goths 666

A bench has been placed on the West Cliff in Whitby after fundraisers collected more than £3,000.

The dedication ceremony took place during Whitby Goth Weekend.

The plaque on the bench reads: “In memory of Sophie Lancaster 26th November 1986 – 24th August 2007 – an angel too soon.

Our sympathies go to Sophie’s family and friends from the Dracula in Whitby website.

Read more about this story from the BBC: Sophie Lancaster

As usual, I didn’t have a camera, but I know a man who did!

Click here to see some pictures of this great vehicle: Whitby Goth Weekend

The atmosphere, as usual, is great and it’s actually quite warm!

The usual Victoriana is out in splendour, as is Darth Vader, Frankenstein and Dracula. Even spotted a Goth ferret (with little bat wings attached to his back – sweet!).

The Pavilion has a particularly good range of stalls selling clothing, jewellery and all manner of goth apparel.

The band sound checks were in full swing ready for this evening (Clan of Xymox) and there’s a real buzz about the place.

The Bizarre Bazaar has been extended and the usual RNLI Dracula Drop looks as insanely dangerous as ever! The Victorian Spa Well in Broomfield Terrace is to be opened (a rare event) and there’s even a Horror Lab at The Resolution Hotel with a special FX demonstration.

However, this year’s event is rather special and a call for tolerance. On the West Cliff there is a memorial bench dedicated to Sophie Lancaster, the 20 year old who was kicked to death by thugs as she tried to help her boyfriend who was being attacked. They were picked on simply for being Goths. The sickening event has sent shock waves around the country and has sparked a huge debate about what we should be doing as a society about the gangs of youths who seem to literally be ‘getting away with murder’.

Despite some alarming-looking characters at the festival, it’s quite clear that the Goths are a peaceful, tolerant and fun-loving sub-culture in this country.

The Goths have paid for the memorial but there’s also a separate fund called SOPHIE (Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) set up by Sophie’s friends and family.

A worthy cause if ever there was one… and a wake-up call to everybody who lives in the UK.