LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Zombies will soon take over the Highlands.
With the screams, the costumes and the fake blood, you might think you're on the set of the latest zombie movie. In fact, it's just Bardstown Road from Mid City mall to about Highlands Tap Room.
“It's a sense of community, and it's fun, and it's something that brings all different crowds of people together,” said Ashley Coyle, general manager of Nowhere Bar.
This is the 14th year for the Louisville Zombie Walk, which initially started with several dozen people and now attracts more than 40,000. This year, 45,000 people are expected to show up.
Make-up artist for the Zombie walk Matt Goodlet credits initial success to the tv show "The Walking Dead" until the event starting taking on a life of its own.
“I think it's one of those things that’s starting to bring people in from out of town," Goodlet said. "So it's become a tourist attraction, really. It's gotten bigger over the years, and now we have food vendors and music, and we even have a sideshow performer this year (and a) costume contest. I mean, it's a full-on festival now.”
Goodlet and others will be doing makeup all day for the public. You can show up at The Back Door, Highlands Tap Room, Hop Cat or Nowhere Bar.
“We're doing appointments, but we're also doing first-come, first-serve, so we will have open appointments," Goodlet said. "So you can just show up, and we'll get your name put on the list."
And what's good for zombies is good for the local economy.
“This is a great day for business," Coyle said. "It's one of our busiest days of the year. It brings a lot of people to the Highlands. Definitely going to be the highlight of the month for every business on Bardstown Road.”
While the festival is meant to be a deadly good time, organizers want people to know not to bring chainsaws, knives, guns or toy guns.
The walk starts at 8:29 p.m. Saturday.
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