Hundreds of Goths descended on a North Yorkshire town for its bi-annual culture festival.

Stunning photos show the visitors wearing dark period dress as they took over Whitby for the Whitby Goth Weekend from April 28 to 30.

Attendees walked the town’s cobbled lanes and seafront promenade, which featured in Bram Stoker's gothic masterpiece Dracula.

York Press: Whitby Goth Weekend 2023Whitby Goth Weekend 2023 (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

York Press: Hundreds of goths took over WhitbyHundreds of goths took over Whitby (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The event was first hosted by Jo Hampshire, when she invited 40 of her pen pals to The Elsinore Inn, close to the centre of the idyllic town.

Now, it attracts guests from all over as a celebration of gothic culture.


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Over the weekend visitors sampled live music and visited a Bizarre Bazaar alternative market, where they could shop at 100 different stalls.

York Press:

Camera Club member Simon McCabe took this picture of a Goth channeling her Harley Quinn

Goths were also seen relaxing in their signature getups in the town’s cafes and pubs, where Bram Stoker sourced ideas for his vampire book.

York Press: Visitors wore dark period dress as they took over the townVisitors wore dark period dress as they took over the town (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

York Press: The event attracts guests from all over as a celebration of gothic cultureThe event attracts guests from all over as a celebration of gothic culture (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The author visited the harbour town in 1890 - and viewed the ruined monasteries and graveyards as the perfect setting to feature his blood-sucking vampire.

The weekender was founded in 1994 and is now one of the most famous gothic events in the world, with the other weekend being held in October.

York Press: Goths relax in their signature getups Goths relax in their signature getups (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

York Press: Whitby Goth Weekend 2023Whitby Goth Weekend 2023 (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

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