Sean C. Morgan
The City of Sweet Home and Youth Advisory Council are finalizing details for the third annual Zombie Run, to be followed by Zombie Zoup on Oct. 27.
“The goal was to boost how many kids are doing the run this year,” said Councilor Lisa Gourley, who is the council’s liaison to the YAC. Overall, the goal is “to have fun.”
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m., with a 2-mile run starting and ending at the Jim Riggs Community Center, 880 18th Ave.
Zombies will harass runners along the route before everyone comes together at the Community Center, usually around 11 a.m., for some Zombie Zoup – soups donated by local individuals and businesses.
The event will kick off with a flash mob to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Gourley said, because the YAC members loved doing it that way last year.
Dave Bauer of Steelhead Fitness took the lead in planning the running event, Gourley said.
She and her husband, Jim Gourley, are organizing the soup lunch following the race, she said.
For the first two years, Sunshine Industries assisted and was the recipient of the proceeds, Gourley said. This year, the proceeds will go toward strengthening the event. The lunch is free, but donations are accepted.
Sunshine will continue to assist with the event, she said.
City staff members are taking a more active and direct role in the event this year, Gourley said. City Manager Ray Towry “has a lot of experience with parks and rec and organizing runs.”
Organizers are planning to make a video this year, including overhead drone footage, to help promote the event and Sweet Home, Gourley said.
About 90 runners participated last year, and about 200 attended the soup lunch.
The Rotary Club showed up with a pumpkin carving event, Gourley said, and she anticipates the addition of activities like that in the next couple of weeks.
“We want it to grow and become a focal point of fall for our community and kids,” Gourley said, noting that other communities don’t seem to be doing the zombie runs any more.
“It is a pop culture thing,” Gourley said. “A lot of young people can relax and dress up if they want.”
Gourley is inviting everyone to show up and be zombies or to participate in the run. Zombies will be put in costume and spread out along the route. They are not allowed to chase or touch participants.
“We need people along the course to help, and we need zombies,” Gourley said. Anyone interested should contact her directly at (541) 974-3457.
Gourley is also looking for people to make promotional videos to post to social media in the coming weeks, and Friday, she invited people to make their own Zombie promotional videos, which must include the information, “Zombie Run, 10 a.m., Oct. 27 at Jim Riggs Community Center.”
The best one wins a $20 gift card to Dutch Bros. To enter, post the video to The New Era’s Facebook page. The video with the most likes wins.
Registration forms and information are available at sweet-home.or.us/ced/page/zombie-run.
The cost to enter the run is $20 for preregistration and $25 the day of the event. For children 12 and younger, the cost is $5.
Checks may be made payable to the City of Sweet Home.