Are you dead-icated to helping Saint John residents in need receive dead-licious meals? Come dressed up in your best zombie costume to participate in the 16th annual Zombie Walk on Saturday, October 19th, and fundraise for Romero House.

Every year, since 2009, community members dress up as zombies, get together, and walk around Saint John. They collect money and donations of food items for Romero House. This year, the walk meet-up starts at 3:30 pm, and the walk will last from 4:30 until 6:00 pm. It will start at the Loyalist Graveyard uptown and will end at the Area 506 container village.

What is Romero House?

Romero House is a nonprofit organization that was founded by Carolyn McNulty in 1982. During that winter, she noticed that residents on the west side of Saint John were struggling to make ends meet. She began a soup kitchen to provide meals for them. The organization started in a one-room unit on Union Street, but as the need for meals grew, the organization moved to Walter Street, with Saint John Community Food Basket. Now run by Evelyn McNulty, Romero House continues to serve Saint John residents 365 days of the year from 9:30 am until 1:00 pm. They serve over 400 people every day and in 2022, they served a total of 146,709 meals.

Why should you attend?

Communications professor, Dr. Madeley at the University of New Brunswick, Saint John is one of the organizers of the Zombie Walk. She has participated since 2009 and helped takeover organizing the walk after its 10th anniversary. It is a highlight of her October, and she enjoys seeing kids and parents come to attend every year. Dr. Madeley also explains how the Zombie Walk is essential to help Romero House.

“It is a grassroots community event that brings out some of the same folks every year. It is a fun event for children who dress up as zombies along with their parents. Most importantly, when we get a good crowd of people we are able to make a good sized donation to Romero House. Romero House is an important agency in our community that has been feeding folks in need for decades. They need donations of food and money in order to be able to provide that important service to our community.”

Over the years, many memories have been made during the Zombie Walk and the participants are eager to keep the tradition going.

“On the 10th anniversary walk I wore the same costume that I made for the first one. On that walk the organizers gave out “toe tags” like they use in a morgue. I still have mine and attached it to my coat button. I was really proud to have been to all of the events since the first one.”

What’s in store for this year?

Similar to other years, walkers can give out candy to kids and participate in the events planned after the walk. There will also be prizes for costumes, so show up in your best zombie attire!

The Zombie Walk is also for photographers! Over the years photographers and photography clubs have captured the spookiness of the event. If you are looking for an opportunity to practice your craft, you are more than welcome to attend and take photos of the impressive makeup and costumes

The Zombie Walk is an amazing opportunity to dress up, meet community members, and help fundraise for the Romero House. More information about the event can also be found on the Zombie Walk Facebook page here.