Friday, October 25 — Sunday, October 27
By: The Dirt
Thousands of zombies and costumed bike riders will roll through Davis this month for the sixth annual Zombie Bike Parade. There’s a whole Halloweekend of fun festivities in store for locals and visitors—and it all raises money to make bicycling available to everyone, including people with disabilities.
Where else will you find zombies falling out of the sky?
In Davis, biking is life. We love it so much, we put zombies in the sky and drop them down to prove it! The weekend festivities bring endless Halloween spectacles, including mad scientists, rotting robots, dancing dead, electrifying e-bikes, karate, fencing, laser marksmanship, and of course, a skydiving grand finale.
The reason for the ride.
The Zombie Bike Ride’s mission is to make bicycling available to everyone. Over the past five years, the bike ride has raised and donated more than $30-thousand to NorCal Trykers, an organization that creates custom tricycles for children with disabilities.
Each tricycle costs about $1-thousand to make, and funds of Zombie Bike Ride have provided 30 children with custom tricycles so far.
The Schedule
Friday
If you’re visiting from out of town, arrive early on Friday to experience all that Davis has to offer: art, culture, and a vibrant nightlife. Stroll the Arboretum, have dinner downtown, and shop from our local small businesses. Don’t forget to bring, buy, or rent a bike!
Saturday
Morning: If you have time to spare, head to Bobby Dazzler’s Pumpkin Patch for acres of pumpkins, a maze, petting zoo, horse rides, hay pyramids, picnic areas, and most importantly, take a ride on their famous Cow Train––an adventure that cannot be explained, only experienced.
Afternoon: Zombie activities begin Saturday afternoon with Mirror Image Dance Company’s Trunk-or-Treat Extravaganza! Expect a cauldron of fun: face painting, dancing, a costume runway walk, bounce houses, and delectable treats (yes, including adult drinks) from the Buckhorn Food Truck. The event is from 2p—5p, but the studio opens a bit early at 1:30p for youth with disabilities. Address: 2121 2nd Street Ste. A-106, Davis.
Evening: Enjoy a hauntingly good time at the Zombie Ball (21+). Wine, beer, and Halloween-themed mixed drinks are on the menu, music by DJ Duc Jones, an LED light performance, and best of all: a costume contest with prizes! Early bird tickets are $13 (because it’s a spooky number), and proceeds support Thriving Pink’s PINKtober in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Sunday
Expect more than a dozen entertainment stations, zombie bike mechanics, and a professional stage with scheduled Halloween acts. This year’s stage is dedicated to Friends of Watermelon Music who are helping to keep music accessible to our community.
Entertainment stations range from interactive opportunities—such as engaging with local Davis groups like the robotics team (Citrus Circuits) and the Davis Fencing Academy—to encountering epic spectacles—like zombies on stilts, an entire Halloween marching band, and a party with Davis Rave Co. and the giant inflatable octopus!
Festivities start at 11a. The actual parade is from 11:30a—1p and takes place along safe bike paths through neighborhoods of Davis. Participants will ride from Community Park to Mace Ranch Park and back (less than five miles). Click here for the route!
The Skydance Skydiving grand finale wraps up the parade at Community Park at 3:30pm. It’s a can’t-miss Davis experience.
Have questions regarding the lineup of events? Want to join in the planning, sponsor our event, or form a partnership? Reach out to Zombie Bike Parade coordinator Aaron Wedra at smartzgraphics@yahoo.com.
