Night of the charitable undead: Windsor's annual zombie walk raises money for homeless

In between eating brains, Windsor's annual horde of zombies are also asked to contribute to the city's Downtown Mission.

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The 2017 Windsor Zombie Walk is happening on Saturday, and the undead are being asked to bring non-perishable food items, cash, or gently used coats or sweaters for the Downtown Mission and the Windsor Youth Centre. 

"The Zombie Walk has been involved with us since the beginning," said Tamara Kowalska, executive director at the Windsor Youth centre. "I think zombies are a fantastic metaphor for so many things happening in our community."

The walk started in 2006 by organizer Jakub Witalec, where hundreds of Halloween fans and zombie enthusiasts gathered to march along the downtown core.

Over the years there has been traffic congestion in the core because of the army of the undead — Windsor Police have had to ensure that no jaywalking was taking place.

"I love Halloween, and I love a good time," said Lori Deschaine, this year's Zombie Walk organizer. She said she has the proper permits for the event, but wants all zombies and their friends to "obey traffic signals and stay safe." 

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Windsor police are not shutting down Ouellette Avenue for the walk, so zombies will have to yield to traffic. 

A costume contest is also taking place just before the walk.

"They really go all out," said Deschaine. "They spent the entire [year] getting ready for this - scars, heads coming out of their stomachs, it's crazy. You can come as a zombie, or you can come as a survivor, they're just as delicious."

Organizers and volunteers will be at Ouellette Avenue and Riverside Drive at 6 p.m. to accept donations. A costume judging will be cut off at 7 p.m. and the top three adult and top three kids' costumes will be given prizes. The march to Ouellette Avenue and Wyandotte Street happens at 7:30 p.m.