Hearing screams around the Village of Pinecrest on a Saturday evening may frighten those not accustomed to the festivity of the town. However, no need to fear, these are sounds of laughter and fun reverberating from Pinecrest’s annual Zombie Run.
The event, hosted at Evelyn Greer Park — a popular destination among children and families located in south Pinecrest — took place on Oct. 21. The run opened its doors at 4:30 p.m. for check-in, where warm-ups then began at 5:45 p.m. The run itself began at 6 p.m.
Participants were encouraged to dress in their best Halloween attire while attempting to complete the route unscathed, with only one obstacle: avoid getting infected by a zombie.
Volunteering Miami, a student-led local non-profit, both promoted the event via social media and attended the event where their staff volunteered as zombies and were stationed to scare runners and take their “life.” Other members aided in sign-ups.
“People went really full out and it was really cool seeing everyone in the spirit and dress up,” Miami Palmetto Senior High freshman and Volunteering Miami Marketing Coordinator Emily Rubin said.
Upon arrival, participants received a ribbon that served as the life flag, the shield against zombie infection. If one’s ribbon was taken, they were “transformed” into a zombie through touch. However, the fight did not end there. To find a cure, runners followed the route where the antidote awaited at two locations along the path. One had to drink the cure and return it to the finish line wearily as zombies stood at every turn.
“When I got there, they introduced us to what we’d be doing and how we can help. And then my friends and I were put on a corner of a street and we were dressed as zombies and supposed to pull off people’s ribbons, and their ribbons were like their lives. So if we pull the ribbon off, then they would lose a life and it was like a marathon,” Rubin said.
The event not only catered to the exhilarating race of antidote searching and zombie dodging, but they also offered a 40-foot zombie maze, obstacle course and activities for all ages. Guests enjoyed a photo booth, food, refreshments, music and much more.
