The Whitby Gothic Weekend is a twice-yearly festival for Goths, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. The first festival was held in 1994, and it was held annually until 1997, when it became a twice-yearly event - generally held in April and October/November. Whitby was chosen in part because it features in Bram Stoker's Dracula as well as inspiring it.
It has now grown into one of the most popular gothic events in the world, attracting attendees from across the UK and around the world. Most of the events are held at the town's 1,000 capacity Spa Pavilion, however, other venues such as The Metropole Hotel are used for overspill and unofficial events. Accommodation is normally fully booked up well in advance.
Although referred to as a "weekend" it includes events during the day on Friday and fringe events on the Thursday and Monday. The event always sells out and many more people attend than there are tickets available, resulting in booming business for Whitby pubs such as The Angel and The Elsinore.
