[slideshow_deploy id='155646']
It was a dark, brisk, Saturday night, and echoes of screams carried through the wind. Several thousand zombies lurked through the streets of downtown Phoenix. This was not a scene out of a horror film, just the setting of the sixth annual Zombie Walk.
The Zombie Walk has allowed the undead to come out and unleash their terror on the residents of downtown Phoenix since 2009, when ambassadors from Downtown Phoenix, Inc. decided to conduct a friendly zombie walk on the Saturday before Halloween.
The event consists of a two-mile walk through downtown, starting at dusk at Heritage and Science Park and continuing until the last zombie slumps over the finish line, which is typically about two hours. The walk kicks off with a festival starting at 2 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. with music, contests, food and beer vendors.
R.J. Price, vice president of marketing at Downtown Phoenix, Inc., said the walk has grown quite a bit since it began.
“The walk began on a much shorter walk than it is now, about seven or eight blocks. The first walk had about 200 people and has grown every year since,” Price said. “Last year, we had 20,000 people involved in the walk.”
Price said the event is family-friendly and brings in many businesses and organizations to participate.
“The walk is an entirely free, family-friendly event," Price said. "There is a 'Lil Zombie Zone' for our junior zombies, complete with arts and crafts. The Red Cross also sets up a mock relief area for the ‘infected.’ There are many food vendors, beer trucks, and several independent vendors selling Halloween-related items.”
After the walk ended, there was live music from Guns N' Roses cover band Recipe for Disaster, four local bands and a DJ. Price also said there was a costume contest.
"Judges will walk around during the walk, handing out invitations to our contest," he said. "The audience crowns the winner from approximately 10 to 12 finalists."
Keeping the zombies in line was the Department of Zombie Defense, an organization dedicated to the preservation of human life and the eradication of all zombies, including co-founder Shaun Hayes.
Video by Peter Maré | Multimedia Reporter
The DOZD is an organization dedicated to getting rid of zombies and protecting the living. Hayes said it started seven years ago.
"Once the whole zombie thing started getting bigger and bigger, that sparked the idea (for the DOZD)," Hayes said. "Zombies are big, so we need something to counteract that."
This year’s walk also attempts to break a world record — the largest gathering of zombies. The current record is at 15,458 participants, held by Zombie Pub Crawl in Minneapolis.
In order to keep an accurate headcount, the DOZD ushered the undead through turnstiles before beginning the walk.
Participants and spectators of the walk were encouraged to donate nonperishable food items to benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank.
“The first 400 participants to donate nonperishable food items get their makeup done by volunteers for free in our ‘Zombification Zone,’” Price said. “Toni and Guy will also be there to do hairstyles at no cost.”
Jerry Brown, director of public relations at St. Mary’s Food Bank, said the zombies’ participation has helped the organization a lot.
“Last year at the walk, we collected 6,000 pounds of nonperishable food items, and this year we’re aiming for 10,000,” Brown said. “If each person who attends the walk, zombie or not, brings just one item, we would easily reach that goal.”
Brown further explained the mission of St. Mary’s, aiming to assist families in the long-term rather than just during the holiday season.
“We don’t distribute hot meals, we aim to get food directly into homes for families in need of emergency food,” Brown said. “About half of the people who come to St. Mary’s have jobs, but can’t always afford to keep food on the table.”
Price further clarified the goals of the walk in relation to St. Mary’s.
“We always wanted to keep three things in mind: allowing the walk to be fun, free, and family-friendly,” Price said. “The charitable component to the walk is great. The community has responded in a way no one could predict."
After the walk is over and all the zombies retreat to their homes, Price explained that one intention is always clear.
"At the end of the day, the real impact of the walk is for charity,” he said.
Reach the reporter at Jlsuerth@asu.edu or on Twitter at @SuerthJessica
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
