SUBMITTED PHOTO Grimes Farm and Conservation Center staff are seeking volunteers to act as the walking dead, and runners to brave the trek during the annual Park Apocalypse Zombie Run next month. Volunteers and runners can register through the week of Oct. 18, which is the day of the event.

On a dark October night, Grimes Farm and Conservation Center trail runners might hear groaning from trees and see human-sized figures amble from nearby bushes, arms outstretched seeking “brains.”

That is the picture of the upcoming fifth annual Park Apocalypse Zombie Run. Grimes Farm staff are preparing for the scary good time, and are searching for volunteers and runners. In 2024, more than 100 participants ran for their lives, trying to avoid “infection” from the horde of zombies lying in wait.

“The event has grown steadily over the years, with increasing numbers of runners each year,” said Marshall County Conservation Naturalist Emma Bruck. “We also continue to enjoy strong participation from dedicated volunteers, making it a fun and well-supported community tradition.”

There are plenty of roles for volunteers to fill. They can help with registration, serve the meal or be one of the dead who might have tales to tell after the event is over.

“Zombies who volunteer will receive a meal and the chance to connect with the community while having a spooky good time,” she said.

For those who choose to not be a member of the walking dead, or volunteer to help the Park Apocalypse together, but still want to participate, they can flee for their lives as runners. In the “spine-tingling” 5K, Bruck said runners will brave the oncoming night and undead creatures lurking on the trails. The zombies have one purpose – steal the brains of the runners, also known as flags from the flag football belts.

“If runners cross the finish line with flags, they have avoided lively decompositions and declared a survivor,” she said. “Those with no flags, their future is not guaranteed and they are deemed infected.”

Bruck said they are taking volunteers through the week of the event. They can sign up by contacting her at ebruck@marshallcountyia.gov or calling Grimes at 641-752-5490. Brave runners can register online at Eventbrite. The registration fee is $35 and includes swag, a finisher medal, a walking dead taco meal, Gatorade (aka “zombie antidote”) and a zombie cookie.

“Medal, swag item and meal will only be guaranteed for the first 140 registered runners,” she said. “Day of the race registration is welcomed, if spaces are still available.”

Registration the day of the race is $45.

EVENT INFORMATION:

Name: Park Apocalypse Zombie Run

Where: Grimes Farm and Conservation Center

Address: 2349 233rd St.

Date: Oct. 18

Hours: Registration begins at 6 p.m., race begins at 6:30 p.m.

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.