We love getting photos of Lippy Fans from around the world, so we were thrilled to get this recap from Batsday Aventure @ Disneyland from Rebecca (Sage Sin) – and tons of great photos! Thanks, Rebecca!
“It was a bright and sunny day for such a gloom and doom event. “The largest dark alternative subculture gathering at Disneyland” was about to take place – Batsday. Started in 1999, Batsday is an annual event that is filled with lots of ghoulish fun. The birds and the bats were all out today. Walking into the park you could definitely feel the presence. Black overcoats, mini top hats, and of course giant 6″ plus boots spread as far as the eye could see. Here all are welcome to the happiest place on Earth.
Batsday in the Fun Park starts off every year, or at least since the 5 years I’ve been going, with the 12:00 o’clock meeting spot in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. May 2nd 2010 was no different. This is always a spectacle as you can imagine one of those extended photos of a sea of black with some red, purple, green, etc. popping out here and there, and about 100 plus umbrellas. It used to be held annually in August, but after many a burnt goth, they moved it to May. I sadly arrived late and missed the castle meeting spot, but from my experiences from years past I knew it was a glorious gathering of all sorts of alternative subcultures, all creative and unique in their own way. There’s everything from cyber kids, to romantic goths, to steampunk, deathrock, shockrock, glam rock, pyschobilly, Lolita, Victorian, black metal, metalheads, hearse societies, industrial, EBM, you name it. Everyone is certainly dressed to impress. It even gathers regular tourists snapping photos in awe. It definitely kicks the day off to a spooktacular start! After that there’s a meet for parents and their “baby bats,” - 13 and younger, at the Sword in the Stone next to the Carousel in Fantasyland. Keep in mind all meetings are optional. Most of the fun is enjoying your day passing and mingling with your fellow Batsday attendees while you try and fill in the rest of the “Norms” (the regular Disneyland day goers), that Disneyland isn’t hosting some sort of gothic convention!. The final and most important of meetings is the 8 o’clock Haunted Mansion gathering. Here all the Batsday ghouls and gals gather in line to get a total head count, some years totaling close to 3000! This year, we only made 1066. The haunted Mansion doesn’t always include all and the entire attendee totals are impossible to know exactly, but some years have estimated 3000-5000, and 2 years ago was their 10th anniversary. No matter the number, it’s still such a moment, surrounded by so many people who are so familiar with everything you are. To be part of this group that all share such a common feeling and passion for this alternative scene spreads such static through the air. Sometimes if you listen closely you can even hear, “Marco…Polo…Goth out of water!” After a few quick shots of your group you head in to the haunted mansion where everyone knows every line to the ride adding a wonderful eerie effect. It’s the perfect way to start closing out the night. Slowly people clear out of the park, some people have changed to save their poor feet, like myself, while others are brave and stick it out to the end. The park gets thinner and thinner while last minute photos are taken with a continued theme of admiration. Nothing is worse than the walk back to the car, back to normal day life, away from the dark fairyland. Only to plan for next year’s outfit!
It’s funny how easy you became so accustomed to these events year after year and with everything around you, you become part of it and you just fall in love. Looking back through past pictures you see a lot of familiar faces and it sort of becomes a family. A nice little dark once a year family…with Mickey Mouse.
Well, hopefully everyone got some Lippy gear from me if you went – Lip Service Flyers, stickers, key chains, and more! Thanks for everyone that has a great attitude every year and keeps it friendly and high spirited! I’ve noticed that its gotten a little less friendly year by year, till I realized we’re all sort of standoffish from strangers, until you say “Happy Batsday” or give someone a big smile, then people are definitely more friendly and open =]
Huge thanks to Lip Service and all their support, and thanks to everyone supporting Lip Service!
See you guys next year.
God bless the freaks!
Sage Sin
http://batsday.net/
