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Youngstown to participate in ‘Thrill the World’ event
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Ready to dance like a zombie?
For the first time, Youngstown will take part in “Thrill the World” this year. It’s an international event in which dancers attempt to break the world record for simultaneously dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
It will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Central Square in downtown Youngstown.
“Thrill the World” raises money for local charities. The Youngstown event will benefit Canine Crusaders, an organization dedicated to helping dogs in the Mahoning County pound. It will be videotaped so that an official count of dancers can be verified.
“Thrill the World” began in 2006 and has broken the record each year. According to thrilltheworld.com, the current record was set Oct. 24-25, 2009, with 22,596 people dancing in 264 cities in 33 countries.
The local gathering is being organized by Paulina Reese McCallum and Elke Lindsay, both of Youngstown. McCallum said she and Lindsay decided to bring “Thrill the World” to Youngstown because they love the “Thriller” dance and want to help dogs. The event almost was brought to the city a few years ago by different organizers, but it fell through.
Registration for “Thrill the World” is $5 and will begin one hour before the event, said McCallum, who said she is expecting a couple dozen dancers.
Spectators are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Volunteers are needed; go to thrilltheworldyoungstown.com to learn more, or e-mail McCallum at CanineCrusader@yahoo.com.
Dancers are encouraged to dress like a zombie, in keeping with the Michael Jackson music video. Low-cost costume tips will be available, and a volunteer will help with makeup.
“Thrill the World” will coincide with the downtown Youngstown Zombie Crawl, a bar crawl that will begin with participants dressed as zombies parading down Federal Street.