The Living Dead Invade Dover for 10th Annual Zombie Walk

Zombies: Love them or not the truth is this time of year you never quite know when you will run into one. That is unless, you are lucky enough to take part in zombie walk, which is exactly what I did this past Saturday.

This was not my first rodeo when it came to Zombie walks but this one was a special one as this was the tenth annual Dover zombie walk and promised to bring something special to the occasion.

I arrived at the Dover of Chamber of Commerce building a few minutes early and watched as the un-dead began to trickle into the parking lot. The event which was originally organized by Larry Clow and his friend Mike Merrigan, has grown each and every year since it's inception in 2006.

My first Zombie walk was in 2009 when my daughter and a group of her friends decided it would be fun to participate and that's really what zombie walks are about, dressing up and having fun. I forgot the dressing up part Saturday and figured I had enough cracks in my face to get away with out make up, but I will admit to feeling a little under dressed for the event as I stood in the chamber parking lot surrounded by zombies of all ages, shapes and sizes. Zombies do not discriminate! That's was apparent as I looked around.

Before long it was time for Captain Larry and his infamous zombie wranglers to assemble and discuss the afternoon's game play before calling the pack together and what a pack they had. Actually I don't know what you call a group and after some research it appears there is much confusion among the un-dead themselves. Horde seems to be a popular term and so I'm settling with that.

By 2 p.m. news of the event had become official and we were joined by the Dover Mounted police who where suitable donned in pumpkin hooves and were ready to escort the horde down Central Avenue. After a quick safely talk, the horde became to move, some quicker than others, and it was quite a sight as the pumpkin hooved horses escorted us from the parking lot onto the street. By this time the horde had grown from ten to over one hundred.

Word of the zombies had obviously spread far and wide as spectators could be found on both sides of Central Avenue watching, cell phones at the ready. Watching peoples reactions is for me the best part of the zombie walk. As zombie after zombie files past an unsuspecting human, watching their faces is priceless. After all you never quite know what a zombie will do.

Several of the people who were enjoying meals in the restaurants that line Central Avenue got a shock as a zombie banged on the window. Some waved back and some looked shocked. One thing was sure this was not you're average Saturday afternoon in Dover. As zombie after zombie dragged themselves down Central Avenue to Dover City Hall, cars honked horns, some screamed, some laughed but everyone had fun, but this was just the start of the fun.

Apparently zombies are not unlike their human counterparts and get hungry after a walk, but rather than visit the restaurant like the rest of us they prefer brains. Jello brains to be exact and there was plenty of these assembled and waiting for those who were really hungry. As is customary the children ate first, followed by the adults who wished to partake in what quickly became a competition. The fastest to eat jello brains within 30 seconds would be declared the winner. Then it was the turn of the adults who it turned out were just as ravenous as their kids.

A little known fact about Zombies is that many of them are vain and enjoy showing off! Those with this tendency showed off they were just as beautiful being un-dead as they were in life and apparently just as creative. The kids contest was first up and what a sight it was as each zombie stumbled forward and let out a roar. The adult contest followed the same format.

Now I'm not sure where the zombies disappeared to after the afternoon's event but they drifted away. Be warned though with Halloween just around the corner I'm willing to be there will be some in your neighborhood soon.