PHOTOS: When vampires and goths descended on Germany

This past weekend, vampires, steampunks, zombies, rivetheads, and goths gathered in Leipzig, Germany for the Wave Gothic Festival. The annual celebration drew over 20,000 participants from around the world.

A reveller poses for pictures at the Victorian Picnic during the Wave and Goth festival in Leipzig, Germany.

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Dressed in elaborate Victorian gothic gowns, revelers enjoyed music from around 200 bands at the festival, which is held to celebrate all gothic music. 

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A pram with a baby skeleton stands amid revellers attending the Victorian Picnic during the Wave and Goth festival in Leipzig.

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Many of those attending wear elaborate outfits and makeup for which they require hours of painstaking preparation and that also show a departure from the traditional black of the Goth scene. 

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Attendees were treated to more classically themed events, including a dance show with the Finnish cello rockers Apocalyptica.

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A woman with an elaborate headgear resembles Medusa at the festival. Elaborate make-up and designs were the norm at the festival.

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Revellers enjoy some drinks at the festival. The event began in the 1990s and has since grown into one of the biggest gatherings of Goth scene followers in Europe with around 20,000 participants.

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The festival is not for everyone and those who enjoy the dark side should surely visit the festival that occurs each year.