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Any time is a great time to visit Whitby. However, if you'd like to make your trip
especially memorable, why not coincide it with one of a number of regular events that
take place in the town.
Whitby enjoys a long and proud musical tradition. In an age gone by, the streets thronged
with the sound of sea shanties, fiddles and accordions frequently played by sailors and
fishermen enjoying a brief respite ashore. Over the centuries this musical association
has evolved and the town now represents a modern day Mecca for folk musicians. Once a
year, during the week immediately preceding the August Bank Holiday, Whitby stages Folk
Week which draws together both well known and yet-to-be discovered performers for what
truly is a festival of music delights. Around 600 events take place at indoor venues,
open spaces and on the town's cobbled streets, all with an emphasis on the traditional
music, dance, song and storytelling of the British Isles and Ireland.
www.whitbyfolk.co.uk
Whitby and the sea are synonymous. In mid-August each year, the town celebrates this
connection with an annual regatta and for three days, a real carnival atmosphere
descends. Trawlers give way to rowing boats as the harbour comes alive with crews from
across Whitby and Scarborough competing for various trophies, including the coveted
Wilson Cup, which dates back to 1901. On dry land, the West Pier becomes home to a
fair complete with white-knuckle rides and stalls selling souvenirs and food. A stone's
throw away, on the town's West Cliff, you can discover displays from the RAF, Army and
Navy, gasp in awe at dog displays, see a classic car rally and even watch the Red Arrows.
The festivities are then capped off by a grand parade with decorated floats and in the
evening, by a spectacular fireworks display.
www.whitbyregatta.co.uk
"But, strangest of all, the very instant the shore was touched, an immense dog sprang up
on deck from below, as if shot up by the concussion, and running forward, jumped from the
bow onto the sand. Making straight for the steep cliff, where the churchyard hangs over
the laneway to the East Pier so steeply that some of the flat tombstones, thruffsteans or
through-stones, as they call them in Whitby vernacular, actually project over where the
sustaining cliff has fallen away, it disappeared in the darkness, which seemed intensified
just beyond the focus of the searchlight..."
When Bram Stoker put pen to paper and, inspired by his countless holidays here, chose Whitby
as Dracula's landing spot in England, little did he realise what he had started. Ever since,
the town has become a spiritual home to anyone with an interest in the Gothic - whether that's
in the literature, the music, the clothing or the subculture. Once a year, in April and in
October (as close as possible to Halloween... naturally!), Whitby plays host to Goth Weekends
where individuals from all walks of life come together to celebrate their shared passion. Lace
and leather are the order of the day as the streets bustle with people in dark and dramatic
clothing reminiscent of the Victorian age. Meanwhile, a number of events also take place -
including performances by bands and DJs.
www.topmum.co.uk
Tel: 0151 639 8585
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