This August, under the cover of grey skies and against a backdrop of old Victorian buildings, goths adorned in velvet, silk, leather, corsets and jewels will converge on the historic township of Maldon for this year’s Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas.
Following the enormous success of the inaugural festival in 2022, Goldfields Gothics will once again shine a light on the dark side of the goldfields with tales of the town’s gruesome, garish heritage, terrifying tours through haunted buildings, and the ancient tombs of the cemetery.
The three-day festival will unearth the mysteries of murderers, bushrangers, and secret societies, delve into paranormal investigations, and will feature a range of music and entertainment that is to die for.
Take a pyschogeographic walk and learn about the birds of the Goldfields (living, dead, mythological and extinct), visit the dark market full of ghastly goods and gothic oddities, take an occult life drawing class, or kick back and enjoy a drink at the Gin Palace.
Journey through the ghostly tales of the past on the Victorian Goldfields Railway Ghost Train, join a paranormal mourning tea and immerse yourself in the world of Demonology, take an occult life drawing class, or be entertained by illusionist and mentalist Cath Jamison alongside the wicked humour of comedy cabaret star Aurora Kurth.
The festival caters to the little dark-hearted souls too, with a family-friendly Gothic and Victorian Picnic in the Maldon Shire Gardens, a kids’ dark drawing class teaching the art of drawing comic book style vampires, ghosts and bats, or watch as some of the zaniest and spooky hearses from around the country roll through town for the Australian Hearse Nationals.
Check out the full program of events from August 4-6 at www.goldfieldsgothic.com – there is truly something to entertain and frighten even the bravest of souls.
