
by Michelle Michaud
Halloween night is a pretty big deal on Signal Mountain. But if organizers of the inaugural Zombie Run and Halloween Fest get their way, Signal Mountain will have one more night of terror to add to its Halloween festivities.
“This was my idea for a fundraiser for the SMMHS Sports Boosters,” said Amy Speek, mother of four and self-professed Halloween enthusiast. “I have always had Halloween parties since my children were very little. Over the years, my collection has grown and so did the party!”
Speek is also a runner and sports booster. “I love to run and runners love to dress up, so when the sports boosters needed some new fundraising events, my running background and love of Halloween seemed to be a perfect fit,” she said.
The Zombie Run, Festival and Haunted Barn take place Saturday, October 29 at McCoy Farm & Gardens. “The run will start at 5 p.m. with a one-mile ‘not so scary’ fun run geared toward participates of all ages,” said Amy. “At 5:30 p.m., the zombies (SMMHS cheerleaders, volunteers and the SMMHS theatre department) will take their places around the trail for the 5K run. Entrants are encouraged to dress up and will be wearing flag football flags.
The race will begin at the sound of a chainsaw and the zombies will attempt to get the flags off the runners. If you cross the finish line with a flag, you will receive “survivor” status, but if you lose your flags you will be considered ‘infected’.
A festival and haunted barn experience will commence at 5:30 p.m. on the other side of the property. The festival will include food trucks, smashing pumpkin baseball, football throw, human foosball, a huge inflatable maze, a Zorb Ball maze, hayrides, zombie photo booths, face painting, pumpkin painting, concessions and a pavilion with college football games on a big screen.
Concessions will include food trucks, brats from Pruett’s, corn dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and pucker powder. The Tap Wagon will be on-site to sell beer at the adults only beer garden. Off-duty police officers will patrol the area all evening.
The pre-registration fee before October 15 is $25 and guarantees a glow-in-the-dark shirt. Family entries get a discount, and the maximum family charge is $120. Single entry registration on the day of the race is $30.
“Although one to five tickets will be required for most activities, a few things will be free, such as the continuous showing of ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,’” said Speek. Guests can also enjoy a hayride after the runs are over.
Severe weather will cancel the event, so organizers are hoping for a great day and event, one they hope to repeat in years to come.
“This may have been my idea, but it is only becoming a reality because of the incredibly talented and hard working committee we formed,” Speek said.
Other committee members are Co-Chair Julie Novak, Eden Lusk, Amy Wakim, Kayse Rigsby, Audrey Nord, Scottie Summerlin, Kelli Lentine, Kelly Dibrell, Laurel Eldridge and Heather Sveadas.
For more information, go to SignalZombieRun.com.
Halloween night is a pretty big deal on Signal Mountain. But if organizers of the inaugural Zombie Run and Halloween Fest get their way, Signal Mountain will have one more night of terror to add to its Halloween festivities.
“This was my idea for a fundraiser for the SMMHS Sports Boosters,” said Amy Speek, mother of four and self-professed Halloween enthusiast. “I have always had Halloween parties since my children were very little. Over the years, my collection has grown and so did the party!”
Speek is also a runner and sports booster. “I love to run and runners love to dress up, so when the sports boosters needed some new fundraising events, my running background and love of Halloween seemed to be a perfect fit,” she said.
The Zombie Run, Festival and Haunted Barn take place Saturday, October 29 at McCoy Farm & Gardens. “The run will start at 5 p.m. with a one-mile ‘not so scary’ fun run geared toward participates of all ages,” said Amy. “At 5:30 p.m., the zombies (SMMHS cheerleaders, volunteers and the SMMHS theatre department) will take their places around the trail for the 5K run. Entrants are encouraged to dress up and will be wearing flag football flags.
The race will begin at the sound of a chainsaw and the zombies will attempt to get the flags off the runners. If you cross the finish line with a flag, you will receive “survivor” status, but if you lose your flags you will be considered ‘infected’.
A festival and haunted barn experience will commence at 5:30 p.m. on the other side of the property. The festival will include food trucks, smashing pumpkin baseball, football throw, human foosball, a huge inflatable maze, a Zorb Ball maze, hayrides, zombie photo booths, face painting, pumpkin painting, concessions and a pavilion with college football games on a big screen.
Concessions will include food trucks, brats from Pruett’s, corn dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and pucker powder. The Tap Wagon will be on-site to sell beer at the adults only beer garden. Off-duty police officers will patrol the area all evening.
The pre-registration fee before October 15 is $25 and guarantees a glow-in-the-dark shirt. Family entries get a discount, and the maximum family charge is $120. Single entry registration on the day of the race is $30.
“Although one to five tickets will be required for most activities, a few things will be free, such as the continuous showing of ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,’” said Speek. Guests can also enjoy a hayride after the runs are over.
Severe weather will cancel the event, so organizers are hoping for a great day and event, one they hope to repeat in years to come.
“This may have been my idea, but it is only becoming a reality because of the incredibly talented and hard working committee we formed,” Speek said.
Other committee members are Co-Chair Julie Novak, Eden Lusk, Amy Wakim, Kayse Rigsby, Audrey Nord, Scottie Summerlin, Kelli Lentine, Kelly Dibrell, Laurel Eldridge and Heather Sveadas.
For more information, go to SignalZombieRun.com.