The “Zombie Walk,” organized by creative collective Porto Diao, is a yearly affair that calls out for everyone to dress up in their most elaborate zombie get-up and walk through Panama City’s busiest party district, Calle Uruguay, in what is undoubtedly the most unique parade of the year.

Now in its third consecutive year, the Zombie Walk will add an “alternate reality” concept, orchestrating a show where a human mob of anti-zombie protesters will meet the zombie horde to try and stop them from getting to their final destination: 3Way bar in Casa Riviera, Bella Vista where punk rock cover band Crimson Ghost will play at midnight. Fireworks, “SWAT” teams, LXN Wrestlers, Rebels Motorcycle Club and other surprises are in store for those who walk as well as those who want to check out the parade from any of the many clubs in the area.

“One of our goals is to create different outlets for people to enjoy themselves, meet new people and share unique experiences,” says Rob Rivera, founder of the Porto Diao group. “Zombie Walks are social phenomena in places like Toronto and Sao Paolo, where hundreds of people dress up and walk the streets. We’re trying to bring the same to Panama.”

The event is being covered not only by the Porto Diao website, but also many important internet portals in Panama. People are encouraged to dress up as creatively as possible, “zombifying” the usual Halloween costume staples such as police, firefighters, chefs, superheroes or any original idea they might have. Zombie behavior is also encouraged, down to the signature walk of old zombie movies, moans and, of course, the craving for human flesh.

“Last year was incredible; beautiful women sponsoring energy drinks spontaneously went out of the clubs they were in, taking their cameras and trying to get the zombies to pose with energy drinks,” Rob says about last year’s walk. “The undead would just growl and throw the cans away instead, because as you well know, zombies don’t get thirsty.”

The 2008 Zombie Walk will begin this coming October 31st at Parque Urraca in Bella Vista. Free registration will be open from 9:00p.m to 10:30p.m. Participants will get a bracelet and a number, allowing them to enter the Crimson Ghost show free of charge.  The Crimson Ghost show, by members of Rencilla, Radicales Libres and Grannada, is open for the living and undead alike, with a $5 cover charge the night of the show in Casa Riviera. For more information, visit www.PortoDiao.com.

Zombie Walk 2008 Panama Porto Diao Lost Video from Porto Diao on Vimeo.