Five tips to stand out in the crowd at the ninth annual Zombie Walk in Las Cruces
Get ready to slump, stagger and spook your way through downtown Las Cruces for the ninth annual Zombie Walk.
The free event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 along Main Street down to Plaza de Las Cruces.
As always, there will be a costume contest to name the best zombies in town. One winner will be chosen for the best youth, adult and group costumes — taking home a trophy and bragging rights.
To help you get ready for this year’s event, here are five tips to stand out in the crowd:
1. Makeup is key
To be the best zombie around, it takes much more than shredded or dirty clothing — take the time to layer on the makeup. Melissa Carreras, a Las Cruces resident and special effects makeup enthusiast, said it’s an important part of pulling off the undead look and can be done with just a few items.
“There’s only a few basics that we use when doing zombie makeup: it’s liquid latex, and surprisingly enough, oatmeal and toilet paper,” said Carreras. She explained that it’s like applying a cast: you soak the toilet paper in the latex, layer it on the skin, and then cut and paint over it to get your desired wound look. For additional gore, you can soak the oatmeal in fake blood and place it on the wounds.
Carreras added that it’s wise to avoid flat white Halloween makeup, opting instead for a natural makeup a few shades lighter than your skin.
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2. Act the part
Every zombie enthusiast knows it takes a lot more than a good costume and makeup to wow the judges; you must truly embody the walking dead.This year’s contestants will have a chance to strut their stuff on stage for a panel of judges after the walk. The zombies can stage a skit, show off their best dance moves or even perform a character-related talent.
“I know for the judging, they’re looking at not just what costume looks best, but who’s really playing the part of being zombies as well,” said Janet Beatty-Payne, the organizer of this year’s Zombie Walk.
3. Don’t procrastinate
It’s a busy time of year, but don’t let that keep you from executing your most deadly zombie look. Vikki Mata, whose group costume took home first place last year, said it’s the best advice she can give. Her group went as zombies on a roller coaster, and it took them nearly a month to complete their costume.
“Don’t wait until the last minute,” Mata said. “It got kind of chaotic… so be well-prepared.”
As for this year, Mata and her family already have their group costume underway.
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4. Be creative
It may seem obvious, but the best zombies are those who think outside of the box.
“Last year, the costumes that won were super creative,” said Beatty-Payne. “If your costume is just a regular old bloody zombie in a t-shirt, the chances of winning are pretty slim.”
Consider picking a themed zombie look. Past winners include zombie Mariachi musicians, the undead Simpsons Family and even some shuffling presidential candidates.
5. Have fun
No matter what, organizers and past attendees say the most important thing you can do is let loose and have a good time.
“I think the biggest deal is: have fun with the costume,” said Jennifer Garcia Kozlowski, executive director for the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, the host of the event. “Truly encompass what Zombie Walk is.”
If you want to flaunt your killer zombie look during the walk, registration will begin at 5 p.m. next to the stage at the Plaza de Las Cruces. The parade of zombies starts at 7 p.m. and travels down Main Street from the Las Cruces Museum of Art to the plaza.
To kick off this year’s ghastly parade through downtown, the Zombie Walk will once again feature a street party — no zombie costume required.
There will be more food trucks than ever before, with 10 different vendors, like Emmy’s Elephant Ears, Half Baked Food Truck, The Green Chile Paddy Wagon, Happy Dog Food Truck and more.
The party will also star several local dance troupes performing zombie-themed numbers, including the return of Alma d’ Arte Dance Troupe and their “Thriller” routine. Also joining the lineup this year is Mayfield Diversity Dance, HD2 Hip Hop Studio, Diamond Hip Hop Dance Studio, Michele's Dance Academy and the Las Cruces School of Dance & Music.
Rounding out the party will be vendors selling zombie-themed items, radio personalities from the Bravo Mic local radio stations and live music from The Beaux Peep Show band.
For information about the Zombie Wallk, call the DLCP at 575-525-1955, or visit "Zombie Walk 2018" on Facebook.
Kaitlin Englund is a freelance writer and may be reached at englundk2@gmail.com.
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If you go
What: Ninth annual Zombie Walk
When: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27
Where: Main Street and Plaza de Las Cruces
Cost: Free
Info: Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, 575-525-1955, visit "Zombie Walk 2018" on Facebook