Ghosts and ghouls crawled the streets on Saturday for the 13th Mount Gambier Zombie Walk, raising money for the children’s ward at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Participants walked from Vansittart Park and along Commercial Street West to the Cave Gardens in their creepiest costumes.
Local band Higgsfield performed before the walk and later in the evening Metro hosted a drag queen performance which included Mount Gambier Zombie Walk organisers Kylie Bamford and Sharmaine Fogarty.
There were raffles, prizes for best dressed and lolly bags given out to attendees following the walk.
Mother Sarah Scott and her daughters Vespa, Cedar, Mercedes and Raine won best dressed group prizes for their costumes, while Pam Hallam also won a best dressed prize.
Ms Fogarty said there were less people taking part than expected this year due to the forecast rain, which ultimately held off for the event.
“There were trophies this year made of a zombie hand and bucket,” she said.
This year was special in that Miss Bamford officially handed over the reins for the event to Ms Fogarty.
Miss Bamford has been running the event for the past 13 years but is now taking a step back.
Ms Forgarty said the pair met dressed as zombies at a Halloween party before the first zombie walk was held.
“Kylie was telling me about the zombie walk the following weekend, but I already had plans to go away, so I did not get to go to the first one,” she said.
“I helped out with the second one and I have helped out every year since.
“There’s a few of my friends and regulars who come every year that have offered to help me out next year.
“I want to keep it going as long as I can and my kids want to help out too.”
Ms Fogarty said she was both excited and scared to take over the event.
“I have not done it on my own before, but I think I will be okay,” she said.
“I kind of want to keep it the same but I might have a few extra events.
“I do market stalls so I might have an extra raffle at Easter time when I have other markets to donate to the cause.
“I am excited to start my adventure.”
