That Was Thrilling!

What do you do when people just won’t stay dead? That was the quandary City of Issaquah officials had to confront this past Saturday, when hundreds of undead filled the streets of downtown Issaquah for the 5th Annual Issaquah Zombie Walk.

In what has become an annual pre-Halloween tradition, the Downtown Issaquah Association sponsors a Zombie Walk along Front Street and Sunset Way in historic downtown Issaquah. The event lasts all afternoon and consists of four distinct phases.

Caution sign on Front Street warns of the impending Zombie Walk, in Issaquah, Washington.

The first phase of the Zombie Walk, the preparation, starts at the Historic Shell Station. Called “Get Your Zombie On”, this event provides would-be zombies the opportunity to get their zombie makeup applied by volunteers as well as professionals. Volunteers from the Downtown Issaquah Association provided free makeup application, while “Illusions by Melanie” provided a paid service.

A future zombie gets a blast of air in the face from Illusions by Melanie makeup artist at the Issaquah Zombie Walk, Issaquah, Washington.

A Zombie Walk hopeful fails to survive the makeup process, at the Issaquah Zombie Walk in Issaquah, Washington.

A woman has zombie makeup applied before the Issaquah Zombie Walk, Issaquah, Washington.

While the makeup artists were at work inside the Shell Station, zombie dance lessons were taking place in the parking lot. Read on for the significance of the lessons.

Once all makeup was applied and the dance lessons completed, zombies headed down Front Street for the second phase, the actual zombie walk. As Issaquah Police stood by and watched helplessly, the zombies marched quietly down the street, only accosting the occasional driver stopped for the signal light at Front and Sunset. At last report, no one was actually injured, except for those who were already dead.

A zombie bride walks along Front Street in the Issaquah Zombie Walk, in Issaquah, Washington.

Zombies come in all sizes at the Issasquah Zombie Walk, Issaquah, Washington.

A zombie waits in hiding for his next victim, at the Issaquah Zombie Walk, Issaquah, Washington.

A zombie scans the crowd at the Issaquah Zombie Walk in Issaquah, Washington.

The third phase of the event was the “Thriller Dance”, the dance made famous by the Michael Jackson music video Thriller. The zombies, having practiced their steps carefully back at the Shell Station, put on a thrilling musical performance for the town residents. Unfortunately, zombies look about the same when they’re dancing as they do when they’re walking, so I won’t bore you with any dance photos here.

Finally, their job done, the zombies headed off the either the Issaquah Brewhouse for the after-party or the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery for “Kids activities”. I’m not able to report on what kind of activities the zombies invented for the kids, because as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, I headed straight for the after-party.

A zombie enjoys a cold Dead Guy Ale at the Issaquah Zombie Walk after-party at the Issaquah Brewhouse, in Issaquah, Washington.

Until next week, stay dead!