Revellers at Whitby Goth Festival get soaked after torrential rain hits Yorkshire town

• The Whitby Goth Festival is off to a terrific start today despite heavy downpour
•  READ MORE: How a sleepy town turns into an alternative festival for three days

The Halloween spirit couldn’t be dampened in spite of heavy rain falling on Whitby this weekend.

Hundreds of people were seen braving the rain on Sunday to attend the Yorkshire town’s Whitby Goth Festival, as its latest three-day goth celebration kicked off.

The darkly flamboyant event takes place twice a year and sees revellers bring out their best period dress and make-up for the special event in honour of Bram Stoker’s hauntingly frightening ‘Dracula’.

Stoker visited the seaside town in 1890 and was inspired by the ruins of Whitby Abbey and the views from the coastline and St Mary’s church and graveyard to pen one of the world’s most famous horror novels.

Today, visitors from around the world descended upon the town in a dazzling array of ghoulish costumes.

Hundreds of people were seen braving the rain today to attend the the Whitby Goth Festival, a three-day goth celebration in the Yorkshire coastal town

Goths armed with brollies took to the streets of Whitby despite heavy rain throwing a dampner on proceedings 

This bully donned his finest hat as he strode through the streets of the historic town 

In one image, a woman is adorned in a black and red corset with a matching sheer skirt and blazer to match.

She teamed the unique costume with a long red wig, a red lace-trimmed umbrella and a matching black bag.

Although clearly stylish, it was the old ball and chain that stole the spotlight – quite literally.

The woman was accompanied to the festival with another party-goer, who came complete with a petrifying mask, long leather jacket and dark sunglasses.

There was no escape for the guest who was seen attached to the woman via a silver chain, which was placed around his neck.

Others – including an adorable pup- were seen dressed in all black, in various materials from cosy fur to thick leather.

Guests continued to line the streets on the way to the festival despite constant downpour and gloomy weather.

The Whitby Goth Weekend is an alternative festival which also features the Bizarre Bazaar Alternative Market of over 100 indoor stalls.

The event takes place twice a year and sees revellers serving up some macabre looks

On Sunday, visitors from around the world descended upon the town in their gothic finery

Others were seen dressed as steam punks, with Victorian style dress and fantastical goggles

Family affair! This brood came dressed to impress in elaborate costumes for especially for the festival

The goth event is known to attract revellers from around the world – and lots of attention too (Pictured: A woman snaps a picture of a few guests)

Wet and windy: Attendees were seen trying to battle the rain on the cobbled streets of Whitby

Whitby is featured in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and is famously visited by Dracula himself, as he lures character Lucy into his grasp, resulting in her death

The now iconic 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. 

Whitby is featured in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and is famously visited by Dracula himself, as he lures character Lucy into his grasp, resulting in her death.

Dracula is widely seen as one of the greatest books in vampire culture and is a classic of English literature.

This year’s festival saw no shortage of guests inspired by the characters within Bram Stoker’s novel, with elaborate period dress, vampire-inspired costumes and more seen at the event.

Thousands of extravagantly dressed people who follow Steampunk, Cybergoth, Romanticism or Victoriana visit the town to take part in a celebration of Goth culture and music, making it one of the largest gothic festivals in the world.

The event is billed as family and pet friendly, with children and dogs normally pictured enjoying the festivities.

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

The event began on Friday and will end on Sunday evening.

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