A few dozen zombies lumbered down the boardwalk in the rain Saturday morning, but the time the sky cleared and the sun came out the few were joined by their “undead” counterparts.
Deputy Police Chief Anthony Salerno puts crowd estimates at 20,000 spectators and participants — the same number of people that attended last year’s walk when organizers arranged a Guinness World Record attempt and there was no rain.
Considering the weather earlier in the day, the turnout was “quite good,” Salerno said.
Click here to see a Sun Facebook photo album of the 2014 NJ Zombie Walk.
In Convention Hall, the line to enter the “Haunted Hall” attraction stretched from one end of the Grand Arcade to the other and snaked down several store fronts at one point.
Although competition was stiff, Zombie Curious George took first place in the overall best costume, and zombie Wendy from Wendy’s Hamburgers took second, according to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jackie Pappas.
The theme of this year’s walk, “Grey Matters,” was selected to help spread awareness about brain cancer and raise funds to help find a cure.
Over $3,000 was collected for Camp Jinka, a free summer program for New Jersey children and teenagers whose lives have been impacted by brain cancer. The organization was selected in honor of Zombie Walk volunteer coordinator Mariel Alguacil, who lost her mother to the disease.
Event organizers aim to raise $5,000 by Halloween through the purchase of Grey Matters merchandise, still available on the event website.
“Our commitment goes beyond the Zombie Walk,” Pappas said.
The theme drew Patrick Martin, 54, Lakewood, out to participate in the walk for the first time. Martin’s oldest brother, James, succumbed to the disease in 1988, he said.
“When I read that, it really hit home and I thought, ‘Now there is a reason to participate’,” he said.
For others, the walk offers a release from everyday fears and an access point to depart from the trials of everyday life for a handful of hours and the ability appreciate a city that welcomes both the living and the undead.
“For me, it’s the idea of chaos and end-of-the-world apocalypse, it’s like, ‘What do we do?’,” said Eric Morales, 29, Tinton Falls. “It all seems like zombies are the least of our problems.”
“It’s fun being something different,” said 29-year-old city resident Jeremy Watts. “There’s so much diversity that goes on in this town that I think only in Asbury Park could you do an event like this and have the town be so welcoming and involved about it.”
“I think the more hectic and harried everyone’s lifestyle gets, you look for ways to let your guard down and I think that’s why people come, to act silly,” said Pappas. “That is what my objective outlook is.”
No major incidents were reported and the only minor incident was a bloody hand print left on a building, Deputy Chief Salerno said.
“The restaurants and shops were full — [it was] very successful,” he said.
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