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Pop those vampire teeth in and find that swirling cape you’ve got buried in your closet for the Whitby Goth Weekend. Twice a year, the quiet town in North Yorkshire, England is descended upon by thousands of figures clad in black lace, top hats, ghoulish make up and more for the bi-annual event. Believed to be where Bram Stoker drew inspiration for the dark classic Dracula, Whitby has been host to this unique subculture for 20 years. Photographer Annie Collinge spent time capturing one of the most popular gothic events in Europe, people arriving from all over the world to celebrate their love of the macabre.

Though famously know for its Goths, the event draws all sorts of alternative lifestyle aesthetics from Steampunk to Emo. Attendees see bands, shop and meet like-minded individuals. Collinge’s series focuses on the elaborate costumes parading through Whitby during this time, each fleeting figure draped in a fantastic mystery.

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