Producers of the 4thAnnual Zombie Walk Palm Springs are expecting a record crowd of more than 400 re-animated corpses staggering through VillageFest on Thursday, October 30th as part of what has become a staple Halloween event in Downtown Palm Springs. Event participants of all ages create an interactive parade of zombies meandering through the crowd of onlookers along Palm Canyon Drive.
Event producers Chad Gardner and Roly Carvajal Paz have seen the event grow each year as more and more people become engaged with the zombie experience. “Zombie Walks are a cultural phenomenon in general. It’s a global experience, making this event become larger and more impactful every Halloween,” says Gardner.
Each year, with the help of sponsors including make-up experts from College of the Desert’s Theater Department and costumes purchased at a discount from Halloween Gear, a pop-up Halloween Store in the Palm Desert Costco Center (near Ethan Allen), hundreds of would-be “undead” don full zombie character. Then, shuffling their way through VillageFest, hand out balloons to children, all the while moaning and groaning in the tradition of the creatures catapulted into popular culture by director George Romero in his 1968 film “Night of the Living Dead” and continuing to rise in popularity thanks to AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”
Participants needing help perfecting their zombie look can meet at 6pm on Thursday, October 30th in front of the Starbucks at Tahquitz Canyon Way and Palm Canyon Drive to have zombie make-up applied affordably. A group of student and professional make-up artists led by Lynda Shaeps, an instructor at College of the Desert’s Theater Department and herself a professional hair and make-up designer will even “blood” spatter clothing giving them that authentic zombie look. Then at 7pm, participants in the free event will meet at the corner of Baristo Road and S. Palm Canyon Drive, when they will take to the street, heading up Palm Canyon Drive through VillageFest handing out balloons to kids and swarming the street like a herd of the undead come to life.
The event benefits Safehouse of the Desert, a nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, intervention and outreach services to youth in crisis from family troubles, addiction, despair, depression, bullying or other causes. They also offer housing and job training services and other important life-skills training for homeless young adults age 18 to 21.
Lynn Abdelnour, owner of Halloween Gear, the Official Zombie Walk Headquarters located next to Ethan Allen in the Costco Shopping Center in Palm Desert, has been participating since the event began in 2011, offering discounts of 20% available on the event’s website, ZombieWalkPalmSprings.com. “Zombie costumes and makeup are more popular than ever, so we have more gear this year than ever before. We have everything for men, women, boys and girls who want to be part of this year’s Zombie Walk.”
Zombie Walk Palm Springs on Thursday, October 30th kicks off a full long weekend of festivities in Palm Springs including a special VillageFest for all ages with a Kids’ Costume Contest and Treats for the little ones, a Halloween Street Show and Costume Party on Arenas Road on Friday, Saturday’s Playa de Los Muertos – a Day of the Dead Pool Party featuring DJ Von Kiss at Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, and many other activities in and around Palm Springs. “It’s a good week to come to Palm Springs,” added Gardner.
