There is no need to bring out the Ouija boards to connect with the dead this weekend since Walk of the Undead will bring zombies, ghouls and other frightful creatures to Aberdeen.

Deb Blecha and friends from History98520 are hosting a bash on Saturday to bring costumed and non-costumed friends, families and neighbors together. The party, complete with games and events will happen all-day between the north and south boundaries of Wishkah and State streets and the east and western boundaries of I Street and Broadway,

Blecha, Phil Slep, Gwyn Tarrence, Jessica Knutson and Dustin Knutson, and others working hard for the all-ages celebration can’t wait for Saturday. This is the second year for the event. It will include a few venues, such as Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill, which the Knutsons own and operate.

“I’m super excited for this event,” said Jessy, owner of Messy Jessy’s. “I’m a huge fan of the fall season, plus I love the hard work everyone is putting into downtown to make it a fun and safe place for families to enjoy. Last year, so many people came and dressed up and I expect this year to be even better.”

Blecha gave a preview of what to expect this year.

“It’s all about community building, an opportunity to meet your neighbors and the goods and services available in our town,” Blecha said.

Blecha loves the camaraderie that came with the planning process, which started back in January. She spoke about what about this year’s iteration of the “Walk” gave her the most pride.

“(It was) how many locals got into the sandbox with us,” Blecha said. “Starting with Five Star letting us use (Aberdeen Auto Sales) as the site for a Hearse Car Show and the Blood Works Blood Mobile, there are (many) businesses who who will be a part of the fun.”

Challenges

Blecha said there were five volunteers who helped revive Walk of the Undead for 2024.

“We’d have dinner meetings at my house,” Blecha said. “We got to know each other while we plotted and planned. Eventually we moved the meetings to Messy Jessy’s and expanded the group.”

The group had to adapt through the summer.

“Of the five originals, two members underwent cancer treatments,” Blecha said. “One left for a month in Europe with his son, one had her son and grandson come home for a month from Virginia, and a 50th class reunion drew her attention. And I went to visit family in the Midwest and New York. So life did interfere a bit.”

Changes for this year

“We focused on making it more of a community party, all ages coming together for old-fashioned fun,” Blecha said. “We purposefully do not have a lot of vendors, although we did encourage nonprofits to take the opportunity to fundraise. This event’s purpose is to bring together our community. Shining a light on all generations playing together while offering businesses, organizations, groups and individuals an opportunity to stand out. We are the umbrella, they are the main event.”

Slep, who said the “Walk” had 160 people venture downtown, hopes there’ll be a bigger turnout on Saturday. One part that’s changed from 2023 is the event will be all-day.

“It starts around 10 or 11 a.m.,” Slep said. “It’ll probably last until 10 or 11 p.m.”

Slep said the hope is to get some interest and some revenue and some more business for the local shops, bars and restaurants downtown.

Slep said there’ll be a Witches and Warlocks Dance. There will also be a chalk-drawing contest for families and individuals on I Street. The street will be closed between Wishkah and Heron streets, just as it was last year.

A chance to serve

“Several students from (Aberdeen High School) are going to volunteer to help out as far as setting up and taking down,” Slep said. “They’re going to dress as zombies and find spots to hide so they can jump out and scare people.”

There will also be security as Aberdeen Police Department officers, Aberdeen Police VIPs and Explorers will also be working to ensure everything happens safely.

Slep also said more volunteers are welcome.

“We need as many volunteers as possible to help do some set up,” Slep said about Saturday. “Come down any time after 8 a.m., to the Aberdeen Art Center.”

Aberdeen High School students working on their junior and senior projects are encouraged to help as well.

“They’ll get rewarded hours for service,” Slep said. “Both of those classes are responsible for 10-20 hours of community service.”

Slep said said “the most important thing to pass on” is the group’s mission is to get families more involved downtown in a friendly, safe atmosphere. He’d like to see everybody who attends to arrive in a costume resembling the “undead.” But, if they show up dressed as a Disney character or super hero, that’s fine too.

“We just want people to be down there,” Slep said.

A few highlights

One of the businesses that has scheduled a string of events is Messy Jessy’s.

“We have some awesome live music happening at our venue with some serious talent,” Jessy said. “Plus, we are also hosting a (Bob Ross) paint and sip in our banquet room. Craft Deeco is a fantastic paint and sip business who makes everyone feel like an artist. She came through with a great spooky ship painting, which is hanging up in our bar … you can sign up online on her Facebook page. She’s awesome to work with, down to earth and always books up.”

The musical lineup, which Dustin said should be a “loud” one, will include Justin Kautzman, Bandet Spouk — who plays progressive rock, metal and punk — and punk band Gonzo’s Attic. The live show, starting at 8 p.m., is for the 21-and-over crowd. Admission is $5 for customers who dress up. It’s $10 without a costume. There will also be special drinks as there were last year and naan flatbread pizza. To find out more, head to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Slep said there will be a pumpkin carving contest on the next block. While the pumpkin carving is to be done at home, families can bring their carved pumpkins over to Furniture World NW.

“They’ll be displayed in the window,” Slep said. “There’ll be a people’s choice award … and the winner will have their picture taken.”

And for people who don’t want, or forget, to bring their pumpkins back home, Slep said those pumpkins will be donated to a place that feeds horses, pigs and other such animals.

Celebrating Aberdeen

Jessy said she just wants to “provide as much support as we can to any and all downtown activities and events.”

It sounds like the hard work is worth it.

“I can see how much it is changing our downtown area,” Jessy said. “I’m just happy to be able to be a part of something so important to Aberdeen.”

Search your web browser for https://walkoftheundead98520.com/ to find out more information about Walk of the Undead.