The Ultimate Goth Day Out in Ayr: Dungeons, Vaults & Markets

With an intro like that, I had little choice but to make the effort, and go for a look yesterday.

As one whose mother had to ask other mothers NOT to scare their kids into submission with phrases such as “Don’t go there or the bogey man will get you!” – on the basis I would slip her grip and go wherever ‘there’ was, looking for him (seriously), I always despair when I see warnings like this:

A Note for Parents: Parental Discretion Advised While The Blackheart Market is an inclusive event with free entry, parents should be aware that this isn’t your typical craft fair. Due to the nature of the horror genre, some items on display may include gore, scary imagery, or adult themes.

I have to confess I didn’t see anything that merited the alert, but then again, that’s just me. Then again, it might just have been a bit of smart marketing on the part of the promoters 😉

Little chance of another look at the town hall’s organ, which I noted on this visit has an award for its originality.

Nice stage, complete with Led Zeppelin soundtrack.

I’ve been to a few similar events recently, and marvel at the appearance of ‘Mystery Bags’.

Sealed bags which buyers can take a chance on, and maybe get something good, cheap (although they’re always cheap, and I’ve seen some pretty expensive bags at some events, although they do ‘guarantee’ one pricey item inside).

I’m NOT suggesting anything nefarious, and it seems like a good way to clear old stock, instead of a clearance sale.

While I wasn’t looking, they reinstated the Cage Walk car park

When I discovered Ayr’s Cage Walk (see this post for explanation: The ‘Cage Walk’ post I promised somewhere in the past), the Smith Street entrance (opposite Ayr Central shopping centre’s entrance) at the station end was next to what amounted to a muster area for works being carried out within the station, and occupied what had been a car park.

Last time I was there, it looked as if the work was done, and the area was being cleared.

It was, and it took me so long to get back for another look – the car park had been reinstated.

The entrance to this feature is just about in the centre of the pic.

It’s an odd shortcut, using this rail bridge over the River Ayr.

It’s not an area I have much reason to wander into (Wallacetown), but it is handy to know if you happen to be in the area of the station, as it saves having to head into the town and make the trip via something like the Auld or New Bridge, or even Turner’s Bridge.