The undead ruled the streets of Denver last weekend, covered in latex and fake blood while filling downtown with their cries for “brrraaaaaaiiiiinnnns.”
Oct. 20 marked the seventh annual Denver Zombie Crawl, an undead gathering that got its start with fewer than 50 people celebrating event founder and zombie enthusiast Daniel Newman’s birthday.
A few years later, with some help from social media, word spread like a virus and the number of undead plaguing the 16th Street Mall grew to thousands.
The day celebrated all things dead, decayed and from the grave and jammed many areas downtown, especially Skyline Park at Arapahoe and 16th.
Despite some disorganization and a high volume of zombies and spectators, the day was definitely a success.
There was a small, unofficial costume contest, a scavenger hunt, a make-up tent and a zombie flash mob performance by the Melonlight Dance Company from Aurora.
The flash mob started as a traditional ballroom dance, until dancer Rachel Gibbons was turned into a zombie by her partner. Then the group really got crazy.
“We do zombie flash mobs and regular flash mobs,” Gibbons, who’s been with the company since July, said. “They’re mainly a ballroom based company, but we throw a little hip hop in there. They’re a great company and so lively. It’s just a lot of fun.”
Crawl coordinators have been attempting to surpass the current Guinness Book World Record which was set Oct. 20, 2010 with 4,093 participants at the New Jersey Zombie Walk.
This year and in past years, the crawl has been unable to properly count the number of attendees or pay the price to have a Guinness team attend the event.
Many believe that the Denver crawl has surpassed the record, but an official count has not been made.
No matter the attendance, one thing is for certain: Denver knows how to bring the dead to life.
Lacy Herz, who attended the Zombie Crawl with her sister and friends, poses with another crawler during the undead festivities Oct. 20. Photo by Brian T. McGinn
3 basic steps to prepare for the undead apocalypse
Step 1: Basic plan
Research is vital. Become aware of the different types of undead. Also, follow scientific blogs and forums and understand what sort of experiments and virus tests scientists are using. If one of these were to lead to an outbreak, your basic knowledge and understanding of it may save your life. The most important thing to know about zombies is that there is only one way to kill them; the head. The head is key. Destroy it in any way possible.
Step 2: Supplies/Weapons
Food and water will be your saviors. Before the apocalypse hits, make sure your house is well stocked with non-perishable goods and plenty of water. Without these essentials you will perish, and not at the teeth of the undead. Other supplies to take into consideration are first aid kits, radio, flashlights, weapons (see above), atlases and maps, blankets, spare clothing and other supplies that you might take when camping.
Step 3: Terrain
Where you are when the pandemic hits is crucial. City and suburban areas are densely populated and will initially be full of panic. Wherever you decide to go, make sure there is a fresh supply of water and towns nearby in case you need to restock supplies. Settling down is not a good idea unless you find a safe haven. Be prepared to travel and stay on the move.
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