CAMDEN — Oct. 27 will prove to be a ghoulish good time at the Riverwoods, and it will be for a good cause as the site plays host to Zombie Fest, a benefit Halloween party from 1 to 6 p.m. for the Women’s Crisis Center of South Arkansas.
Tyler Hensley, the mad scientist behind the event and member of the WCCSA board, promises a family-friendly community Halloween celebration with free admission.
“We have a band, we have live music, a DJ all day, The Cruisin’ Kitchen Food truck will be there. We’re doing a trick or treaster egg hunt. The SAU Tech cosmetology school will be there doing professional make up at no cost,” Hensley said.
All food and beverage sales, plus donations will go to aid the WCCSA.
Hensley said he was inspired to hold the event after the success of a similar Zombie Walk that he organized as head chef of Postmaster’s Grill. He also said that the need for more family friendly events in Camden lead him to organizing the event.
“We did a small event four years ago at Postmasters to watch ‘The Walking Dead’ season finale and what happened was I went to the dog show with my kids and they said it was the last year of the dog show…We can’t lose something without replacing it.” he said, “You can’t go trick or treating anymore. It’s not like when I was a kid and you went down every street.”
Henlsey’s mission is also a personal one in that he grew up around domestic violence.
“I wanted to make it a true community festival,” he said. “I had been around domestic violence in my house as a child and I started working with the Women’s Crisis Center to help them do what they do and we tied the Zombie Fest into it as a community festival.”
Trophies and medals will also be awarded for:
• Costume Contest
• Pumpkin Carving Contest
• Coloring Contest
• Apple Bobbing
• Potato Sack Races
Hensley also encouraged people not to be thrown off by the name.
“You can dress in any Halloween costume you want, it doesn’t have to be a zombie,” he said. “That’s just the name of the festival.”
The event is sponsored by Ben E. Keith company, Woods Place, Pepsi, Grapette International, Postmaster’s Grill, Rabbit Ridge Farms, Mac’s Fresh Market, Wal Mart and Peti Jean Meats.