Whitby Goth Weekend April 2008
by Johno the WolfBoy : May 3rd, 2008
History.
The Whitby Goth Weekend began around 13 years ago, and was originally only held once a year in October. It became so popular, that the organizers decided to hold it every six months. It has grown so much that one shop can take enough money over the 2 weekends that it doesn’t need to open for the rest of the year.
People travel from all over the world to come to the small fishing town. One person we met had traveled from Alaska! First time visitors maybe a bit confused when they first arrive in the town, as each side of every street has a different name (due to the person that was asked to draw up plans for the town was paid by the street name, so he named as many streets as possible.)
This Weekend.
Most people start the weekend early, arriving on the Thursday. It’s a night of meeting up in a bar with old friends or making new ones.
Friday is when most of the festivities start, when the Spa Pavilion hosts the first night of the bands, and for those that don’t want to see the bands, there was a burlesque night at the Metropole Hotel. There were several other events like bands playing in social clubs and bars.
Saturday daytime saw the dedication of the Sophie Lancaster Memorial Bench, which is situated near the WhaleBones on the West Cliff. There was also a Charity Bungee Jump called the Dracula Drop, for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. The Goth weekend has got a long reputation of donating to local charities, usually the local Cat & Dog Shelter, but also this year there was the campaign for S.O.P.H.I.E. (Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) which was trying to get …
