The Crawl is On

Zombies are gearing up to come out in full force this Saturday, Oct. 28, in one of their favorite locations of all – downtown Eureka Springs. Following last year’s successful, albeit soggy Zombie Crawl, there was concern for a few months that there may not be another Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl. However, a new organizer among the Undead has risen to the challenge and elected to ensure the Zombie Crawl comes back.

Zombie Crawl Organizer Colton Scrivner, Eureka Springs business owner, said he wanted to make sure he did something to make it happen. “The previous organizers had done such a great job, so I thought I could do it too and continue what’s become a tradition,” he said.

Scrivner explains that this is a family-friendly, all-day event with so many fun-filled activities that no one will want to miss. “I would encourage everyone to come on Friday if possible and do some shopping downtown, but if you can’t make it until Saturday, come early enough to enjoy downtown. The shops open by 10 and at noon in Basin Park we will have an Information Booth set up where you can pick up cards to be used in a scavenger hunt throughout the stores downtown,” he said. “In addition to all the stores, there will be live music and of course there is some of the best food around!”

The Crawl will happen just before dusk at 6 p.m. “The event itself is free! The Zombie Crawl parade is a canned food drive, so if you want to be in the parade, we ask that you bring two cans of food in order to participate,” Scrivner said. The two cans of food can be left at a designated spot near the library.

Participation takes on two forms. You can summon your inner zombie and go all out in elaborate costume and makeup, or you can simply find a great spot to sit or stand along the parade route and enjoy the Crawl as a spectator.

If you would like to join the horde and participate in the parade, but you need help with your features, there will be makeup artists in the park to get you looking your Zombiest. According to Scrivner, he believes three artists ready for the event are Maggie Doak, Paris Richardson and Nikki Greenlee, so he encourages everyone to visit them in Basin Park for assistance.  

Logistics of an event this size can be quite daunting, but Scrivner said there is a master plan in place and porta-potties have been rented as well as numerous trashcans placed all over downtown. “We are striving to make this event for all ages and business owners, local residents and lots of out-of-towners to enjoy year after year,” Scrivner explained. “We are hoping to be proactive to make sure Eureka Springs remains as beautiful as it is during and after the event.”

The Zombie Crawl starts at the Carnegie Public Library at 194 Spring St., and crawls through downtown, passing in front of Basin Park and ending on Main Street by the Trolley Depot.

A Zombie Crawl website has all pertinent information, eurekaspringszombiecrawl.com/zombie101