Friday::
Let’s Get Dark: Social Gathering Game
Let’s Get Dark is the ultimate goth-themed conversation game that delves into the spooky, mysterious, and poetic depths of your soul. Whether you’re new to the community or a seasoned bat, this game is your gateway to connection. Hosted by Luke Vinland and Joe Melluzzo.
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Rainbows in The Dark LGBTQ+ Panel
In this hour You will be able to connect with friends and chosen family here. Here fun stories and accolades of past and present LGBTQ+ history within our scene and culture. There is always a possibility that sensitive topics might be discussed, please be kind & take care of yourself first.
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Industrial Dance Class
Our Industrial Dance Class at Dark Force Fest will be a high-energy, fun, and intense session where you’ll learn the rhythmic, stomping moves of industrial dance. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned dancer, this is your chance to get a great workout, express yourself, and immerse in the music.
Come ready to sweat, have fun, and dance like a machine!
Hosted by Amy with tunes by DJ Mighty Mike Saga
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How to make it when you haven’t made it.
Daniel Graves of Aesthetic Perfection shares insights on navigating the music industry and turning passion into a profession without mainstream success.
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Phantom Visions: Capturing Ghosts in Photos
Join seasoned photographer and educator Bridget Haggerty for Phantom Visions, a workshop that fuses the technical with the surreal. Delve into the fascinating origins of spirit photography, then learn to harness long exposure techniques to create ghostly, otherworldly images. This workshop is perfect for photographers and supernatural enthusiasts alike.
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Cosplay Armor 101
Ever dreamt of building a badass set of cosplay armor, but don’t know where to begin? Join two experienced cosplayers Zadra and Casaragi, for a crash course on materials, tools, techniques, and resources. We’ll also conduct a live demo and let you get your hands a little dirty to help kickstart your crafting confidence!
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Vampa: The Vampire Museum Presents: The Art of the Kill
The Art of the Kill offers a rare glimpse into the history and mythos surrounding vampire extermination. Museum curator and proprietor Edmondo Crimi will deliver a focused presentation on the origins and evolution of vampire killing kits, highlighting select pieces from VAMPA’s collection—some dating back to the 18th century.
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Saturday::
The Gothic Vampire Panel
Join Madame X on an exciting exploration of the gothic archetype of the Vampire and how it pervades legend, literature, music, art, and film. From medieval folklore, to Bela Lugosi, from Edward Gory to Marilyn Manson, from Vampire: the Masquerade to regional Vampire Balls … the vampire is an enduring subject of fascination, fear and reverence.
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Goths Love Horror Panel
One thing that many of us in the goth/industrial community share, besides the music, fashion, and culture, is that we also love horror! Horror films can be reflective not only of our scene, but of society, technology, and our own humanity. Join Serena, aka lafemmecinema, and guests, for an engaging discussion about horror films!
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Void Signal LIVE
Pirate Radio from Beyond the Stars comes to Dark Force Fest! Come meet festival headliners and play Team Trivia! Brainstorm your answers and compete for PRIZES! Host Brian Prime and the Void Gang will be on hand to share some laughs and make some memories. How will your team fare? Come find out!
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Goths of Color Panel
We celebrate, discuss, and educate about the role of people of color in the goth community. Join us for an open dialogue and learn how race intersects within the Goth subcultures, and the impact that people of color have on the goth community. Hosted By: Darryl Hell, Darque Starr, Augustine Aichele, Jasmine Goodwin
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Cabinet of Curiosities
The collector’s “Cabinet of Curiosities” is a staple of Victorian literature, art and cultural history.
Learn a bit of that history, as well as some of the secrets to making your own cabinet…or room…or home! Lady Gypsy will walk you through some of the tricks of the trade as well as resources for laws and trade issues within the community, where to hunt and how to present your treasures.
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Sunday::
Electronic Saviors Panel
Join Electronic Saviors and cancer survivor, Jim Semonik and guests as they discuss and play tracks from the upcoming Electronic Saviors Volume 7 compilation on Metropolis Records and Distortion Productions. Jim will be doing a Q & A and will discuss the creation of the series, the future of the anthology, its reception and the other spin off projects.
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Encountering the Dead: Exploring the Occult Theme in Horror
Step into the world of darkness with one of the psychic entertainment industry’s preeminent voices, Kenneth Drake. Commonly referred to as “Hollywood’s Psychic,” he has been credited with more than 50,000 readings for Hollywood’s most elite. Learn how the history of Spiritualism and the occult have influenced the darkness in popular culture for more than a century.
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Navigating Goth Stereotypes and Misconceptions
We will explore the complexities of goth culture, dissecting common stereotypes and misconceptions that surround it. Drawing from personal experiences and research, we’ll highlight the diversity within the goth community, discussing its rich history and the significance of self-expression. Hosted by Dawn Farrell.
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The Dark History of Asylums
Throughout history, asylums, sanitariums, mental hospitals, health farms etc have been used to house, treat and sometimes even aid those seen to be mentally challenged.
Sometimes, however, they were literally a hell on earth.
Learn the interesting, frightening and often maddening history of one of the most controversial types of “medical” facilities in the world. Hosted by Lady Gypsy.
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Indie Horror Video Games
Dive into the spooky underworld of independently published horror-themed video games! Free from the demanding shackles of major gaming publishers, indie creators have been hard at work creating innovative and subversive games, far from the norm. Creepy, haunting, yet sometimes playful, these games will leave you thinking far into the night, long after you’ve turned off your screen.