Brains.... mmm, brains.... 3rd annual Durham Zombie Lurch... mmm, brains...

If it's late October, it's time for the undead to come out.

I'm not talking about election season (though some candidates, you gotta wonder about.) No, it's time for the third annual Durham Zombie Lurch, a grassroots movement bringing halting, staggering movement to City sidewalks each fall in downtown since 2007.

Zombies may be the living dead and unable to contemplate much beyond than warm, tasty brains -- but they have managed to connect to the Internet, with this Facebook page dedicated to spreading the word, and a Flickr stream full of photographic evidence.

Last year's lurch turned out almost 80 participants, who get made up as zombies -- or who decide to become the hunted instead of the hunters. Hey, Durham's an equal-opportunity sort of town.

New this year: you can choose to be come a zombie hunter and take the enforcement of the natural order of things into your own hands. (Hey, we hear BJ Council isn't doing much these days? Then again, the overtime scandal suggests someone's brains had already been snacked upon....)

The fun kicks off Friday, October 30 in the parking lot adjacent to Piedmont Restaurant and the downtown YMCA; the free event will mosey though downtown's sidewalks and along towards Brightleaf Square -- where event creator and organizer Vera Reina notes that diners seem to get, er, a bewildered thrill out of the sight.

It's a 6:30 kickoff this year. 

(See BCR's 2007 story on the inaugural event for our thoughts on who we'd like to see turn out for a Durham zombie lurch.)

Comments

[Mike Licht]

It's not a fad, it's a syndrome -- Zombie Behavior Spectrum Disorder, ZBSD

See:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/seasonal-health-threat/

[ACW]

We just got back. This was so much fun. Thanks for the heads-up! :)

[Vera]

I wanted to thank all of you who took part in and promoted this year's Zombie lurch. I'm happy to say it went off with no problems, and only minor police observation when traffic was temporarily blocked on Main St.

One of us counted a total of 180 costumed people in the procession. I do know that we also had a number of onlookers that ended up walking with us for the duration, victims in plainclothes, photographers and vieographers, and "hunters" hiding behind random shrubs.

It was a fun night for all Ages. Thanks to All of the Businesses that were good enough to Support and/or Tolerate the Lurchers: to Piedmont for serving up Zombie Punch, to James Joyce, Federal and Bull McCabe's for taking on the throng of Zombies throughout the evening. Also thanks to My husband Sean, and the random lurchers that stepped up to help corral and guide the dead into orderly throngs throughout the night.

I've always said this thing is just quintissentially Durham in its diverse make-up, quirky, expressive, counter-conventional "why not" sense, but one Lurcher recently added this aspect:

"It is powerful to claim the streets."

ok, i'll take that.

This town loves a Happening... .Thanks Durham

-Vera Reina
Headmistress, Durham Zombie Lurch

[Amanda]

Has anyone scheduled a Lurch for the 2010 Halloween weekend?

[Sean]

When is the date for the 2010 Durham Zombie Lurch? Can't find info for the Durham lurch anywhere!!!!!

[Andrew Edmonds]

Gots to check the FB, Sean...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8688537670&v=wall

October 30.
6pm.
Parking lot across from Piedmont.