Downtown Bowling Green will come alive with the living dead on Wednesday for a
community Zombie Walk.
The event is being organized by Bowling Green resident Jeffrey Kill — seriously, Kill
is his real name.
“I’ve been a zombie fan since way back,” Kill said. After watching the
original black and white movie version of “Night of the Living Dead, he
was hooked.
The zombie movement died off for a while, but has since been resurrected
with recent more modern zombie movies and television shows.
The zombie outbreak will begin at 4 p.m., with zombie makeup available
at two downtown locations. While pale skin and darkened eyes are
standard zombie features, more advanced makeup with flesh wounds and
sores will be offered, Kill said.
“We’ve been perfecting the makeup now for about five weeks,” he said. “It’s really
gruesome.”
Some of the more sophisticated makeup jobs, “solidify the fact you aren’t just a sick
person. You are a zombie,” Kill said.
In addition to makeup, the organizers hope to have some fake severed hands and feet
to accessorize the zombies.
People joining the event should come dressed their own zombie attire.
The few rules of the night include an advisory to not scare people who appear to be
frightened.
“We want this to be a fun and safe event,” Kill said.
More than 30 businesses in the downtown area have signed up to
participate in the Zombie Walk as “Quarantine Zones” offering discounts
and promotions for the “living dead.”
“They’re not going to be taken by surprise by zombies dropping in,” Kill said of the
businesses.
Zombie wanna-bes can get makeovers at Serenity Spa & Salon or
Grounds For Thought. The cost of getting professionally zombified will
be:
• $5 and two non-perishable food items for basic makeup
• $10 and two non-perishable food items for advanced makeup
• Free will donations will be taken at these locations
Proceeds from the event will benefit Computers for Charity, Bowling Green Christian
Food Pantry, and BG Teen Center.
Once zombified, the Zombie Walkers will then embark on a free roam walk
around the downtown area. Walkers will be aided by a map of the
Quarantine Zones and the Zombie Patrol (volunteers who will help walkers
to find activities throughout the evening).
The event is intended to be a “family friendly zombie night.”
“Everybody is welcome. We are encouraging families to come,” Kill said.
The library downtown will offer a zombie style movie for teens and
tweens at 6 p.m. A “Zombie Hangout” will be held at Grumpy Dave’s from
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. featuring entertainment and a photo shoot, with
celebrity monster guests from The Haunted Hydro.
The official Zombie Walk will conclude at Grumpy Dave’s with the Rot or
Not? Costume Contest featuring prizes offered by business sponsors from
9:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Kill said he has been fascinated by zombies for years.
The more traditional zombies were slow moving and easy to outrun. They
were easy to spot with their dazed looks and outstretched arms. It was
the sheer number of the zombies that did in most humans, Kill said. “Not
only are they popping out of the grave,” but everytime they bite
someone a new zombie is created.
“Their basic instinct is to feed,” Kill said.
But zombies have become more advanced over the decades, especially when
compared to one of the original zombie like characters, Frankenstein,
according to Kill.
“I do consider myself somewhat of a ‘zombologist,’” he said.
While Kill’s fondness is for zombies, he realizes others prefer such
horror characters as vampires and werewolves. Those characters will also
be welcome on Wednesday.
“We’re not going to turn away any other creatures of the night,” he said.
Kill said the Zombie Walk should provide some levity during this
stressful campaign season. Zombies, he said, have no political
preference, “you’re either dead or you’re food.”
Anyone wanting more information on the event may go to www.zombiewalkforcharity.webs.com. The website is averaging 1,000 hits a day, according to
Kill.
“It’s got a life of its own,” he said.