On Friday October 2nd, 2009, the Arizona Ghostbusters organized and hosted the Phoenix Zombie Walk at First Friday Art Walk. The walk was a promotional event for the upcoming International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival. http://www.horrorscifi.com Two weeks ago we decided to set up our booth to collect donations for the upcoming MS Walk on November 7th. We then learned there was going to be a Zombie Scavenger Hunt hosted by the Film Festival for Prizes. For the Scavenger Hunt participants are required to dress up like zombies and take pictures with certain locations and items around the Art Walk route. Since we were an item on the list and realized we'd have zombies stopping by all night, we decided all the ingredients were there to put together a Zombie Walk. We attended the first Zombie Walk at the Art Walk two years but one was not held last year and zombie fans were anxious for another one.

With only 14 days before the walk our team all took on tasks to get the walk promoted, organized, and decorated. Around the walk route we made and posted various zombie warning signs. For the zombies themselves we made various signs to carry to promote the film festival and a few just for fun. On those we distressed the signs as much as possible with blood, bullet holes and burn marks. For our booth location we set up police tape and chalk outline of a victim who apparently lost their head. To help gain more walkers and to also collect donations for the MS Walk, we offered zombie make-up on the spot. This proved to be a very popular and many passers-by continued to get makeup even after the walk was over. Luckily our weather cooled down and we even had some rain during the walk.

As the sun fell down we had over 100 zombies of all ages stalking the streets of Phoenix. Many zombies came in great makeup and many participated in the first Zombie Walk. Just ahead of the zombies several of our team members led the way handing out the GBI zombie info pamphlets. The other half of the team helped keep the zombies together on the sidewalks and while crossing streets. The zombies had a great time as well as the unwitting participants along the walk route. After the walk we continued with our booth to collection MS Walk donations for pictures with the team and the occasional zombie completing their scavenger hunt requirements. It was an awesome night and we are proud to have helped bring the Zombie Walk back to Phoenix. We are especially proud of our newest member Chuck Goodman. He proved himself well against the hoards of the undead. We have a great video and more pics coming. I'll put up a couple of the brief videos I took at the very beginning of the walk and will update on the total donations for the evening.

Warning Signs







Walk Signs



Booth





The Zombies Converge















Zombie Make-up In Progress









Some of our awesome helpers



They love doughnuts



Equipment Check



Chris enjoying the calm before the storm



Is everybody getting this so far?



Zombie Walk



























Dirty Work



Booth Duty









I believe my trap sprung a leak



Even a Mandalorian stopped by



Newest member Chuck



The team and helpers



Video Clips

http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/arizonaghostbusters/?action=view&current=zombie09083.flv

http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/arizonaghostbusters/?action=view&current=zombie09101.flv

wow!

I'm always impressed with the functions your team is involved with

Thanks. We put our heart and souls into this one. We all love zombies and especially zombie walks. Everyone had a great time and it means alot to us that we helped put it together.

Super jealous, awesome work as always guys.

Any of the team seen Zombieland yet?

Thanks King. Going to see it now actually. We didn't have time after the walk.

Just got word we raised $350 in donations from pictures with the team and zombie make-up. Also, this couple won the scavenger hunt prize, which was full VIP passes to the horror film festival.

Excellent work on the total, guys.

Seeing that pic of the winning couple, I suddenly have nightmare visions of a Zombie-themed wedding.

It's really ironic you say that King, at the first zombie walk in 2007, there was a zombie themed wedding officiated by Brian Pulido, creator of Lady Death who lives here.

Here's the youtube video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9di-wnXxB6U

Here's a few more pics some of the zombies have sent us. Some of these I didn't get great pics of or any at all. I'm still hoping to have the professional video to post up soon.

Thanks for sharing the photos, they are awesome! I attended the Chicago zombie walk and it was excellent. I need to restore my car already so I can join you in spreading the word. If only money grew on trees. :-O