New York zombies will overrun Rosendale for the second annual Zombie Festival on Sept. 17.
The event was successful last year and according to founder and co-organizer, Elena Brandhofer, even the town supervisor dressed for the event. The festival includes a parade through town, zombie- themed events and some “undead” local icons.
“It’s like a dream [or] nightmare (you choose) come true, people really get into it. It’s beyond the makeup and the costumes,” Brandhofer said.
The event will be stretched over the afternoon beginning at 12:30 p.m. and ending around 7:30 p.m.
The parade begins in Willow Kiln Park and will march through Main Street. Zombies will be judged on their costumes for a chance to win prizes at 4 p.m. Musicians playing at the event include Tiger Piss, The High Five Revival, The Blind Ambassadors, Ratboy, Crazy Cat Lady and DJ Slambo.
“We have some eerily convincing zombies out here, judging the contest is a tough job. Last year we even had zombie hunters hiding in the bushes waiting to ambush our unsuspecting undead marchers,” Brandhofer said.
The showing of the film “White Zombie” is the final event of the day and will begin at 5 p.m. in the Rosendale Theater. “White Zombie” is one of the earliest zombie movies produced and was originally released in New York.
A local celebrity in the zombie community “Captain Cruella Moxham” will also be in attendance.
Moxham, the self proclaimed “undead queen of Saugerties,” will be providing makeup assistance to participants who want to look “fiendishly fab for a very nominal fee.” She has organized zombie events around the area including the Village Invasion Zombie Crawl and Ghoul’s Yule, both in Saugerties.
Linda Zimmerman author of “HVZA: Hudson Valley Zombie Apocalypse” will be at the festival looking for zombies to be written into her next book.
“I’d love to see some crazy costumes, hear some slamming music, watch a classic flick and provide people with a uniquely Rosendale Festival Experience,” Brandhofer said.
The event will be held rain or shine. Anyone seeking more information about this event should contact co-organizer Lara Hope at
Redhopeproductions@yahoo.com.