brainwavez.org | In Pictures: The 2011 Cape Town Zombie Walk, Part 1

In Pictures: The 2011 Cape Town Zombie Walk, Part 1
A brainwavez.org Cultural Experience In Cape Town, South Africa

By: Mandy J Watson on 31 October 2011
Category: Culture > Features
Tags: #horror, #zombies

The thirst for blood and braaaaiiiinnnnnsss led a shambling group of undead Capetonians across the city in a nightmarish zombie walk. Here, in pictures, is part 1 of this now annual HorrorFest event.

As part of this year's HorrorFest, an annual film festival and week-long horror event that is held in Cape Town to celebrate mayhem and the macabre, a zombie walk was once again arranged with a route through the city centre to the V&A Waterfront.

The weather gods taunted the city in the morning, with faith-testing rain falling for hours. Miraculously, by late afternoon the rain had stopped, though the clouds continued to loom ominously in the sky, the sun peeking through on occasion. Thankfully all of this added to the armageddon-like atmosphere and helped to add an extra level of visual drama to photographers' photos. Capetonians, notoriously fickle when it comes to even the hint of rain, surprisingly braved the unknown in support of this fun zombie event and arrived in droves to take part in the walk.

Doom Is Nigh Participants gathered in The Company's Garden, which is not too far from The Labia film theatre where the HorrorFest is being held, and, just before 16:00, the shambling quest for braaaaaiiiinnnnssss began.

Fearless Leader The walk was well organised and the rules were explained to the participants before the event commenced. This included following the designated route, as indicated by marshals, and not crossing intersections without official direction from a marshal to do so as the event did not have permission to stop traffic. Paramedics also marched with the group in case of accidents or incidents, although non occurred.

The Quest For Flesh The walk began with the zombies shuffling down a path in The Company's Garden.

Beat It A suitably scary soundtrack, comprising hits such as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and the theme to Ghostbusters, accompanied the zombie masses, courtesy of this Sun Plugged mobile music system. It's a wheelie bin converted to hold speakers and a PA system, and it has a solar panel on top so it's entirely self sustaining.

Bloodthirsty Gaze A zombie marshal watches intently as the crowd makes its way through the The Company's Garden gate into Government Avenue.

An Unsafe Haven The route led down Government Avenue to Wale Street, past the historic St George's Cathedral. This Anglican church was a spiritual and emotional haven for the marginalised during apartheid and it embraced people of all colour and especially outcasts of society... although I'm not sure that zombies would be welcome.

They Mostly Come Out At Night... Mostly Staff at Mint, a restaurant in the Taj Cape Town hotel, look on in bewilderment as the horde shuffles past.

On The Scent Of Blood The zombies followed the route down St George's Mall, a pedestrian walkway in the centre of the city that, during the week, buzzes with activity.

Just Out Of Reach At the intersection with Riebeek Street a group of zombies was stopped by marshals while traffic passed through. The zombies clawed at the invisible forcefield holding them at bay until it finally dissipated, allowing them to cross.

The Rotten Spoils Of Armageddon At Thibault Square the horde regrouped as it had been split into sections during intersection crossings. These two zombies, on a quest for flesh, haphazardly fought over a dismembered leg.

Fight To The (Un)Death Next a seemingly intoxicated passerby picked a fight with one of the zombies, to the delight of the horde. Both combatants threw dramatic movie-style punches.

Zombie Crossing The route continued through Thibault Square to the intersection at Hans Strijdom Avenue at the new, permanent MyCiti bus stop, before continuing onward....

Click here for part 2 of the 2011 Cape Town Zombie Walk.

The 2011 Cape Town Zombie Walk was an official event of the 2011 HorrorFest.