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Here's everything you need to know about the 2019 Louisville Zombie Walk

Kirby Adams
Courier Journal

For the 15th consecutive year, the undead will take over Louisville, dragging their bloody bits and scary parts down Bardstown Road this weekend. 

If you are ready to play dead — or rather, undead — and take over the main street of the Highlands neighborhood dressed as a bloodthirsty zombie, here is everything you need to know about the 2019 Louisville Zombie Walk.

What is the Louisville Zombie Walk?

The annual Louisville Zombie Walk is a zombie-themed festival featuring live bands, entertainment, costume contests, food (no brains, sorry!), a zombie car show, zombie market and zombie midway gaming area. 

When is the Louisville Zombie Walk?

The 2019 Louisville Zombie Walk is set for Saturday, Aug. 24. The festival begins at 7 p.m. and the walk begins at 8:29 p.m. 

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Where is the Louisville Zombie Walk?

The Louisville Zombie Walk is a 3/4-mile walk through the Highlands neighborhood. The gathering area for the start of the walk is anywhere along Bardstown Road between Eastern Parkway and MidCity Mall, 1250 Bardstown Road. The walk ends at Grinstead Drive near Highlands Avenue. 

Is makeup or a costume required for the Louisville Zombie Walk?

While the event is free, the price of admission is that you dress up ... so yes, a costume of some sort is required. But you do not need a costume to stand on the side of the road and watch the undead amble by.

Can someone do my zombie makeup?

If you're not a zombie makeup expert, there are a few spooky locations that will do your makeup for a fee on the day of the Louisville Zombie Walk. All of the makeup will be done between 4 and 8:15 p.m. Here's what you need to know:

  • The Devil's Attic will do makeup at Highland Taproom, 1058 Bardstown Road. Cost is $35 for adults and $20 for children. You can prebook by emailing zwzombification@gmail.com. 
  • Asylum Screampark will do makeup at Chill Bar, 1117 Bardstown Road. Walk-ins are welcome.
  • Grim Trails will do makeup at Hopcat, 1064 Bardstown Road. Cost is $25 for a level one infection (paint only), with upgraded infections and add-ons available. Walk-ins are welcome or email grimtrails@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.
  • The Haunted Hotel will do makeup at Nirvana, 1047 Bardstown Road. Cost is $20 for a fresh zombie, $40 for a bloody zombie and $60 for a gory zombie. Walk-ins are welcome. 
  • The American Horrorplex will do makeup at Nowhere Bar, 1133 Bardstown Road. Cost is $25 for a fresh zombie or $50 for a bloody undead zombie. Upgrades are available for an additional fee. Walk-ins are welcome. 

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Is there a costume contest at the Louisville Zombie Walk?

The costume contest has been a tradition for as long as the Zombie Walk has been around. It's free to enter — just head to the costume contest tent in front of HopCat to register. Finalists will be called back to the stage to be voted on by the crowd for best in the following categories:

  • Scariest zombie
  • Funniest zombie
  • Hottest zombie
  • Best child zombie
  • Best zombie group 

How many people are expected to attend the Louisville Zombie Walk?

Almost 42,000 people attended the Zombie Walk in 2018, and organizers are expecting the crowd to be closer to 45,000 this year.

Is there a signature cocktail of the Louisville Zombie Walk? 

We're so glad you asked — yes, there is. It's called the "Bloody Stag" and it's made of Jagermeister, berry tea, lemon juice, blackberry jam, blackberries, icing sugar and ice cubes. You can find it at Highlands Taproom, 1056 Bardstown Road; HopCat, 1064 Bardstown Road; Nirvana, 1047 Bardstown Road; Big Bar, 1202 Bardstown Road; Nowhere Bar, 1133 Bardstown Road; and Chill Bar, 1117 Bardstown Road. 

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What is the musical lineup for the Louisville Zombie Walk?

There's a handful of bands performing at the event at two separate stages. Here's the full lineup of performers at the main stage in front of HopCat on Bardstown Road: 

  • 8:40 p.m.: Waterworks Dance Studio
  • 9 p.m.: Foxbat 
  • 10:15 p.m.: Nulydedz
  • 11:15 p.m. Zombie costume contest award ceremony 

Here's the list of performers on the second stage in front of Nirvana on Bardstown Road:

  • 7-10 p.m.: DJ sounds from Skyfire Entertainment 
  • 7:30 and 10 p.m.: Octo Claw
  • 9:30 p.m.: ISTRA 

Are there any prohibited items at the 2019 Louisville Zombie Walk?

Yes, there are. Firearms, toy guns painted to look like a firearm, metal knives or machetes are not allowed. Get creative with your costume and forego weaponry. 

Why is there a zombie walk in August? 

Jason Besemann, owner of The Devil's Attic haunted house, is the walk's second organizer. It started in 2005 as the Louisville Zombie Attack and was run for years by founders John King and Lynda Curtis, the Courier Journal reported last year. The date of the event and the start time for the walk — 8:29 p.m. — is tied to one of the founder's birthdays and pop icon Michael Jackson's birthday. 

Besemann is named in a lawsuit filed by King, the Courier Journal previously reported. The lawsuit alleges that Curtis and Besemann changed the Louisville Zombie Attack to the Louisville Zombie Walk in 2015 without King's permission, and has presented itself as a continuation of the original event.

King's lawsuit claims trademark infringement, unfair competition and fraud, and is still pending.

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Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/kirbya.