Zombie Walk takes over Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE – It was a zombie take over in Sault Ste. Marie during the evening of October 19.

About 400 people from the community dressed up in their scariest living dead looks, and took part in the 10th annual Zombie Walk in the city's downtown.

Among them was a man who wore a medium-length red wig with plastic horns puncturing through the top. He had a fake eyeball dangling from one side, while black makeup circled his other eye as artificial blood dripped down his face and neck.

"It took me about an hour or so to get ready. We bought a bunch of stuff at different stores. We did a little bit of hot glue gun, a little bit of this and that. We had a great time… I have to admit, I looked at a couple of little kids and they went hiding behind their parents. So, I think I got it," said the man, delighted.

Another attendee wore a nurse outfit and had a mock butcher knife, fixed to appear as though it had been pierced through her head. She wore a bright green coloured contact in one of her eyes and had grey makeup covering her face and neck, along with fake bloody wounds.

"I usually dress up creepy but this is my first time as a zombie… Walking Dead is one of my favourites, so it was pretty easy to throw together," she explained.

The 'Soo Zombie Walk' has been going on for 10 years and it was inspired by similar events in other cities.

"I love knowing that I brought something really fun to the Sault. I love seeing everyone go all out in their costumes. Like there are some fantastic costumes. Everyone seems to have a really good time and that makes me feel really good," said Janna Chapman, Sault Ste. Marie Zombie Walk Organizer and Founder.

Chapman said she's always been a zombie fan and that she loves painting zombie faces.

"It's a fun makeup look. I like the blood and guts mainly because I like special effects. So when I'm watching movies, I'm always looking out for the special effects. It's a little gross and nasty," she said.

Another zombie, smothered in grey makeup, echoed this sentiment and said some of the looks she saw at the event were impressive.

"That guy has a pencil through his head! Like people look really good. I cannot believe the makeup. Especially on little kids. They look incredible… well, deadly incredible!"

The zombie theme has become very popular in recent years with several television shows and movies featuring the undead.

A young girl who dressed as a dead bride with white makeup covering her face, black circling her eyes and fake blood oozing from her mouth and onto her dress, said she likes zombies because "they eat people's brains and I think that's cool."

Another attendee added that zombies are growing in popularity because “[people] like the thrill, they like the excitement, the adrenaline of something being reincarnated. It’s the gruesomeness of it, they’re hard to kill. Kids these days are into that.”

Fitting with the zombie theme, the event also doubled as a food drive.

All canned goods collected will be delivered to the Soup Kitchen Community Centre.