At 8:29 p.m., the Highlands will briefly turn from a hipster haven into a horror show when zombies of all sorts descend (or, perhaps, ascend) upon the hapless and helpless masses for the ninth annual Louisville Zombie Attack. The zombie walk is the largest such zombiefied event in the world, whose origins began when its two founders, John King and Lyndi Lou, discovered that they A) shared the same birthday, and B) decided on a themed birthday party that would ultimately draw around 100 revelers to the Hideaway Saloon in 2005.
Since then, the annual walk has infected more “victims,” with last year’s attack claiming 15,000 souls according to Louisville Metro Police. This year’s attack will gather in the parking lot of Mid-City Mall, with The Back Door offering free zombification (via makeup application, and not, say, the Rage virus) beginning at 6 p.m. The attack will then begin at 8:29 p.m., hoards of zombies straggling north on Bardstown Road before hanging a left on Grinstead toward the 1000 block of Barret Avenue to party at either Barret Bar & Grill with Vice Tricks and Squeeze-bot, or The Monkey Wrench with All Dead, The Revenants, Pelts, and DJs Count Grozny and Rev. Spook. Zombies stable enough to ride bicycles will go toe-to-rotted-toe with the Louisville Hardcore Bike Polo Club in a game of zombie bike polo from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will also be a costume contest.
The annual parade is free and open to the public. More information can be found at www.louisvillezombieattack.org, as well as their Facebook page.
Photos: Facebook/Louisville Zombie Attack.
