Wichita Falls Zombie Crawl going back to its roots after two-year hiatus
What: Wichita Falls Zombie Crawl
When: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Crawl begins at 6 p.m.
Where: 10th and Ohio Street in front of Brian’s Plumbing
Information: (940) 322-4525
Admission: Admission is free. Contest have separate entry fees.
The beloved Wichita Falls Zombie Crawl event will return to downtown Wichita Falls following a two-year absence.
“We are taking the Crawl back to its roots,” said Jeanette Charos, marketing director for Downtown Wichita Falls Development, Inc. “To how it was when it was originally formed in 2010.”
The WF Zombie Crawl will run from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday over a good deal of the downtown area. The crawl itself will begin at 6 p.m. in front of Brian’s Plumbing at 10th and Ohio. Charos recommended that guests arrive early, as there’s a potential surprise at 5:30 p.m. or so.
When the event began in 2010, the event drew probably 100 participants and quickly grew to about 5,000 in 2015, its last year, she said. “I think everyone loved doing the zombie makeup, the gory dark Halloween look.
A crawl,” she explained, “is a gathering of zombies that gets together and take a designated route through downtown streets and alleys. We shamble around and moan,” Charos said with a laugh.
The crawl is stroller friendly. “We leave that to parents’ discretion whether their kids can handle all the gore and costumes. We see a lot of 10 year olds and older at these in the past. Everyone is welcome.”
There will be no zombie head start, or chase. “There’s no survivors verses zombies. We’re hoping for a 35 to 45 minute crawl. It will be about a mile and take place slower than walking speed.”
Following the crawl, there will be entertainment set around the downtown area with live music, zombie improv, a fire truck pull, “Thriller” dance lessons, contests and more. All events are free with the exception of the Rib Eating and the Costume contests.
James Cook will emcee the event from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Main Stage at 10th and Ohio, and he will play music from 7 to 7:30 p.m. It Hurts to be Dead will follow him from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Downtown Royalty will play at Park Central (815 Scott) from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and from 8:30 to 9 p.m. The Fintastics will play at a third stage located at Farmers Market from 7 to 9 p.m.
Dance, Etc. will do “Thriller” dance lessons beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Park Central. Michael Battaglino, Texas and Oklahoma Strongest Man Champion, will pull a fire truck in front of Half Pint Taproom & Restoration Hall, 817 Ohio St., with a heavy rope. The Backdoor Theatre improv group will do Zombie Improv in front of Hook & Ladder Coffees and Wine Co., 616 7th St. beginning at 8 p.m.
The 7:30 p.m. team relay style Rib Eating contest is $10 to enter and will be held in front of at Hook & Ladder, and the costume contest follows the Crawl at 10th and Ohio and costs $5 to enter. People may sign up for either at the event.
“We are very happy to do the Zombie Crawl again,” said Jana Schmader, executive director of DWFD. “It’s not a fundraiser. It’s about creating a fun atmosphere and getting people downtown. We want to expose them to downtown in ways they had not seen it before. Create an atmosphere.”
The crawl and the events afterward will be held over the downtown area, and Schmader said they hope to get people to circulate around downtown to explore more.
The downtown group said they would like to do it again next year. “We’ll see how it goes, and how attendance is and how people receive it,” said Schmader.
Charos said it’s one of her favorite events, and what originally brought her to the organization, volunteering for the crawl during its second year. “I dress up,” she said. “I love going all out with all the makeup.”