UMW goths get glammed for Reclaim Arcade event
3 min read
The messy fun of Goth Night awaits you. Black is the uniform in this community of music, arcade and play. | @lizrighterstudio, Instagram
by COLE RASMUSSEN
Staff Writer
Imagine someone points you towards a doorway leading to a living room that is straight out of the 1970s. This retro-themed space gives way to a room with flashing lights packed full of arcade games, people dancing and lively conversations. This is Goth Night at Reclaim Arcade.
Fascination Street is a Goth Night hosted in part by UMW students on the third or fourth weekend of every month. When entering the arcade, you are required to pay $15 to cover all costs for playing the arcade games throughout the night. The event starts at 8 p.m. and ends at 11:30 p.m., so only those 18 and over can enter to comply with Virginia law about minors needing guardians present with them after 10 p.m.
“Fascination Street actually started as an offshoot of the original Fredericksburg Goth night that used to be called Funeral Party,” said senior psychology major and Co-President of the UMW Rocky Horror Club, Azrael Fanning.
Fascination Street’s first event was held in July 2024. This year, they have expanded to introduce local vendors, including small businesses and organizations like the Queer and Trans Coalition. Condoms, tampons, emergency contraception, zines and additional reproductive and sexual wellness resources were all offered during the last event.
“We strive to provide those resources, providing that space, providing comfort and unity,” said Fanning.
Wanting to preserve the Fredericksburg Goth Scene, Fanning worked with DJ Hodge, a Fredericksburg local, to create Fascination Street. There are plenty of UMW students who have become regulars at Goth Night.. A previous iteration of the event, Funeral Party, was similarly run by two University of Mary Washington alums from 2022 until its dissolution in 2024.
Their next event on Oct.17 is a featured vendor event, however, the list is being kept a secret as the organizers want to create more mystery around the event. There will also be table-to-table trick-or-treating, dancing and arcade games.
“One vendor sells a Fascination Street scent blend that they sell in soaps and roll-on perfume oils,” said Fanning.
Stubbs, a junior chemistry major, went to the September event and drove two of his friends. Although Stubbs had known about Goth Night for a while, he did not go until rekindling his love for dance this year.
“Goth dancing is kind of distinct from regular club dancing because it focuses a lot on individual movement,” said Stubbs.
Stubbs says he had a great time at Goth Night and was able to meet new friends and build greater community.
“This person I had met 30 minutes prior bought French fries and said to eat as many as you want, and I was like, ‘I don’t even know your name.’ Everybody was so sweet and so encouraging,” said Stubbs.
This series of positive experiences is why Stubbs plans on going to the Goth Night event in October.
The goth aesthetic may seem intimidating, but the welcoming environment at the previous events proves how open this community is. Though it is slightly out of the way of some students, it is worth the distance for a night of dancing and fun games.
Fanning has a radio show called Comfort in the Grave that broadcasts Saturdays at 5 p.m. She uses this as an opportunity to combine WMWC Campus Radio, UMW’s student-led radio station, and Fascination Street. Though unofficial, Fanning uses this Fascination Hour to play assorted music and commentary.
Though Fascination Street is at Reclaim Arcade, there’s hope of hosting a similar event to last year’s Goth Ball hosted by Madame Oddities.
“I feel like if it would have been on campus, I would have gone sooner,” said Stubbs.
The next event will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, at Reclaim Arcade. Goth attire or Halloween costumes are encouraged but not required. Come prepared to dance hard enough to wake the dead.
