10,000 costumed dead people beckoned to Deep Ellum for Zombie Walk

They want your blood.

Drooling zombies will be back to shamble the streets of Deep Ellum once more. The organizer of Zombie Walk Dallas has announced the event's second-year shamble for Saturday, October 15.

Zombie Walk Dallas 2010

Last year's Zombie Walk saw 4,000 people in Deep Ellum. This year, organizer Kael Graham wants to more than double that number.

Last year's fest brought out a whopping 4,000 people to Deep Ellum, most who heard about the event through the power of simple Facebook posts. This year, co-organizer Kael Graham wants 10,000 walking dead to roam the streets. He believes it will be an international zombie walk record if 10,000 people show up.

“Over 200,000 people came out when the Mavericks won the NBA Championship. Why can't we get [less than] 10% of that?” Graham said.

Attending is free. A fee is tacked on if you want to be covered in ghoulish make-up by one of the event volunteers. There's even a “deluxe works package” for the really gung-ho – which is an oxymoron, given that the deluxe buyers are getting awfully excited to spend the day partially conscious, wandering the streets and groaning.

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Zombie Walk Dallas 2011

Sat
Oct
15^th
2^PM

Deep Ellum
Dallas, TX
Age limit: All ages Free

This year, they also want your blood. Attendees will be encouraged to give blood at Carter Blood Care in the weeks leading up to the zombie walk. Attendees will not be encouraged to give the day of the event. (“It's not a good idea for people to donate and then drink,” Graham said. “Donate [a week or two prior], then come out and drink your zombie asses off.”) The AMC Network is also a sponsor of the event, which is a good fit given their show The Walking Dead.

This year's event will bring out stilt walkers, fire breathers, and an outdoor stage with up to 60 bands, Graham said. The guys at 2826 Arnetic in Deep Ellum, who have helped plan the event, are going to have Deep Ellum Brewing Company beer. Commemorative shirts will be for sale. And for zombies feeling romantic, there will be a drive-in movie set up on a projector screen.

“Even if you're not into the zombie thing, maybe you're into the charity thing," Graham said. "Maybe you're just into the beer thing … Maybe you just want to see a band play. Maybe you want to take your chick to a drive-in movie. ... It's fun; there's a general camaraderie that I experienced last year that I hope we can replicate again.”

There must've been a lot of very sweet, soulless zombies on site last year.