VENTURA, Calif., The "Merry Gothmas" event made its return to the Ventura County Fairgrounds, bringing dark style and alternative holiday cheer back to the city. But while the fans were thrilled to attend, not everyone in Ventura was in the holiday spirit, especially some local church critics who tried to shut the whole thing down.
🧛 The Dark Party Returns
The event returned by popular demand for a weekend run. Attendees showed up dressed in all sorts of gothic costumes and clothes for the first day of the event. They were there to celebrate a unique style of holiday shopping and fun.
Fans of Gothmas love the vibe, which is clearly inspired by movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas. The event is full of vendors selling decorations and gifts that are far from the usual bright, cheesy holiday stuff. You can find unusual ornaments, creepy crafts, and all sorts of items you would never find at a regular mall.
Milena Tea of Thousand Oaks summed up the feeling of the crowd perfectly. She said, "This is for everybody, Gothmas is for everybody and the super natural." Another attendee, Jason Switzer of Oxnard, was just happy to be there shopping. He said, "I just like the Christmas stuff, the Halloween type Christmas stuff, I just like all the people out here and it is something to do."
⛪ The Critics Try to Shut It Down
The event was a hit with its fans, but it sparked a major protest from local religious critics. Organizers of Merry Gothmas reported that a local Ventura church wrote a strong letter to the fairgrounds board. The letter actually asked the board to cancel the entire event.
The critics didn't stop at just writing a letter, either. They took their protest to the street. Church members walked from their location and started picketing right outside the fairgrounds entrance, trying to get people's attention and make their feelings known. They were clearly upset by the gothic themes and the alternative nature of the holiday celebration.
This clash is a classic example of different groups fighting over what is okay to celebrate during the holiday season. The event organizers and attendees see it as harmless fun and unique self-expression. The critics see it as something that goes against the traditional meaning of Christmas and should be stopped.
In the end, the critics' protest failed to shut down the event. Merry Gothmas continued its run through the weekend. The fairgrounds stood by the event, allowing the dark holiday market to keep attracting its devoted fans.