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Zombie zaniness will return
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
The Zombie Crawl has taken on a life of its own.
The annual Halloween-season event is now in its sixth year and shows no signs of, umm, dying.
It will begin Saturday afternoon at B&O Station, which is just across the Spring Common Bridge from downtown.
Those who want to participate must register ($3) between 2 and 6 p.m. at the B&O grounds, which will have a festival atmosphere. There will be food vendors from Christopher’s Downtown and Avalon Pizza, and makeup artists will be on hand to transform people into zombies.
A zombie photo booth also will be set up for those who want a portrait taken. The first 400 people to register will get a free official Zombie Crawl T-shirt.
“Almost 900 people registered last year,” said Amy Fobes, a manager at the B&O Station. She expects even more to register this year. The Zombie Crawl is sponsored by the city of Youngstown.
“Through the years it has increased in attendance,” said Fobes. “Other than St. Patrick’s Day, its one of the biggest downtown events of the year.”
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society will again offer free guided walking tours of nearby Oak Hill Cemetery between 2 and 4 p.m.
At 6 p.m. in the B&O’s rear parking lot, the Thriller dancers of Youngstown will once again perform the “Thriller” dance by Michael Jackson. The local effort is part of the annual global attempt to break the world record for the largest simultaneous dance to “Thriller,” which raises money for charities. Spectators are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Thriller dancers also will break into flash mobs that will perform at undisclosed times in downtown bars until 9 p.m., according to a press release.
After their 6 p.m. performance at B&O, the Thriller dancers will lead the horde of zombies across the bridge to downtown, where partying will begin.
Sixteen bars, restaurants and other businesses in the downtown area will offer drink and food specials to anyone wearing a Zombie Crawl wristband.
Participating bars include Youngstown Maennerchor, Draught House, Avalon Pizza, Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts, O’Donold’s, V2, Martini Bros. Burger Bar, Imbibe, Ryes and Rust Belt Taphouse.
One Hot Cookie will create a zombie cookie for the evening. Other events include an 8 p.m. theatrical performance of “Living Dead: The Musical” by Rust Belt Theater Company at Calvin Center, and screenings of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Oakland Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
B&O Station also will host a huge zombie party, featuring three bands — the Youngs- tonians, the Guilty Pleasures and Panty Dropping Rock Brigade. Admission is $5 ($7 if not in costume). The party will start at 7 p.m. and go until about 1 a.m.