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The Southwest’s largest gathering of zombies will return to Downtown Phoenix on Saturday, Oct. 29.

That’s right. Zombie Walk is back. This time with new blood.

Zombie Walk

Courtesy of Downtown Phoenix, Inc.

With the help of co-producing charitable partner Arizona Hemophilia Association and downtown’s Warehouse District, Zombie Walk has been brought back to life.

[Note: Downtown Phoenix Inc., which created and produced Zombie Walk for the last seven years, announced in May that the event had been cancelled.]

Admission to the popular family friendly event, which last year attracted 20,000 attendees, will be free with a $5 donation benefiting Arizona Hemophilia Association.

In addition to a new event site, route and co-producer, Zombie Walk 8 will also add a ticketed, adults-only pub crawl that will push the zombie horde into Downtown Phoenix bars and restaurants in search of discounted (and non-human) food and drink. Sales of commemorative pub crawl wristbands will benefit AHA.

Zombie Walk“We wanted to bring Zombie Walk back but it had to be the right fit,” said Downtown Phoenix Inc. President and CEO David Krietor. “This reimagined event highlights the family friendly components that have made Zombie Walk so successful–things like the makeup stations, costume contest and of course the walk–while supporting local charities doing impactful things in our community.

“We’re also excited that this year’s event will activate our emerging Warehouse District and downtown bars and restaurants.”

For the Arizona Hemophilia Association, which is headquartered downtown, joining forces with Zombie Walk will raise much-needed funding and awareness about their organization and those people living with inherited bleeding disorders.

“This is a great opportunity for our organization to partner with a well-established event in our own neighborhood,” said Arizona Hemophilia Association CEO Cindy Komar. “We’re very excited to help bring this unique tradition back from the dead.”

Additional details of Zombie Walk 8 are still developing but the timeline on Oct. 29 will look like this:
4 p.m.: Gates Open
5:30 p.m.: Zombie Walk Through Warehouse District
7:30 p.m.: Costume Contest
8 p.m.: Walk Concludes, Pub Crawl Begins

Many more Zombie Walk announcements, including a landing page with additional resources, are coming soon!