Each year, we host a dinner for the members of our group Americans In Leipzig on the night before the official start of the WGT. This year, we hosted 75 people from all over the world at a private event hall, where we had a vegetarian feast!

It's impossible to photograph all the incredible people that you see over the course of the WGT. So many unbelievable costumes, beautiful girls (and bois), things you've never seen before. Most of the pictures I took this year were of friends or people we know - or sometimes to break the ice with people! So this gallery is full of things to do and see at WGT...

A warren of tunnels, a network of catacombs built into the old city fortifications. What better environment for thousands of goths to collect after a full day of concerts, shopping and other events? The Moritzbastei with its three dance floors and rooms upon rooms to sit and chat - and drink - is packed with people from midnight until after sunrise, and it's where I often make the connections with all of those friends that I only get to see once a year...

Experience has told me that it is not really worth it to try to take pictures of the live performances at WGT. Often, it is so crowded in the huge halls and the lighting difficult without a tripod and sensitive camera, which is only allowed if you carry a press pass. And the reality is that you're there to have fun, not fight for the best photo! Still, there were a few times I tried to take some shots: the incredible light-show performance of In The Nursery in front of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, our friends and favorite band Absurd Minds, and the Medieval warriors playing fast-paced electronic dancey music (seriously!), Heimataerde.

Leipzig is a great host to the WGT each year. Der Grufti Hauptstadt der Welt! The people all are very accommodating of the great influx of thousands of the strangest people you'd ever see in your hometown. Many locals come out to the venues to see what the activity is and take pictures of the gusts to their city, and they are genuinely proud that their city hosts this unique festival. Local media outlets cover the events and run pictures and video clips of the fun. So we like to wander around Leipzig a bit, and return some of the goodwill.