Graphic by Michaela Durner

By Vail Moshiri
Once a year, the living hide inside and the dead roam up and down Massachusetts Street.
The Lawrence Zombie Walk is an annual event that occurred for the seventh time on Oct. 3 to raise money for local charities. The event raised more than $2,000 for organizations, such as the Lawrence Humane Society and Arc of Douglas County. The walk has drawn a crowd of more than 1,000 people in recent years.
With so many participants, students and citizens alike ran into several zombies they knew.
Junior Skye Yoder knew what to expect and went by herself this year.
“I did not specifically go with anyone because I knew that I would end up with some of my friends if I just showed up, which is exactly what happened,” Yoder said. “I love watching how people mimic zombies and all of the people you run into that you know, and I especially love when there are tourists who don’t know of the Zombie Walk and get freaked out.”
Whether you’re a fan or not, the Zombie Walk has become a Lawrencian tradition. Small children with ghoul masks and adults with intricate makeup enjoy the chance to get their ghoul on and parade on Massachusetts Street.
Although this event has been around for nearly a decade, it gained popularity in recent years. Senior Nico Groth was handed a flier in the park one day and decided to participate. Senior Scott Morrison was told about it three years ago in The Zombie Survival Club, while others were pulled out of their houses by friends and zombified the day of the walk.
Everyone has their reasons for dressing up. Some do it for charity, but the majority just like seeing how dead they can look.
Senior Maegen Hiersche participated in the event for her third time.
“I think it is a blast to dress up. I love the zombie theme, even if there are some survivors that show up,” Hiersche said. “It is neat to see everyone come together as a community to share in the experience.”
Overall the event is well received each year,
but students still had reservations.
“Sometimes people are rude or mean when they don’t like what you wear,” Hiersche said. “But that shouldn’t be what it’s about.”
Students agreed they weren’t fans of the heat.
“What I dislike most is how the Zombie Walk isn’t always on the weekends which it totally should be,” Yoder said. “Best day would be on a Friday.”