Zombies arrive for the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by Wendy Post)
On Oct. 24, hundreds gathered at Owego’s Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. for the 3rd annual Zombie Fest – an event that celebrates Halloween, and provides a free event for guests from all over the region.
Tioga Downs Casino, Visions Credit Union and the House of Music – a store that once operated in Towanda and Sayre, Pa. back in the 1970’s, sponsored this year’s event.
The event also included a haunted house, hosted by Empirical Paranormal, a crowd-
Dancers from Kathy Hansen’s School of Dance lead the third annual Zombie Walk through downtown Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
pleasing performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” by Kathy Hansen’s Dance studio performers, a zombie walk around downtown Owego, and three bands – GriEli, Wreckless
Marci, and the Recycled Zombies – who closed out the evening. Mark Bennett with Shark Audio Productions provided sound.
The event was also supported by Owego’s fire police; St. Patrick’s in Owego; Music, Movies and Mayhem on Philly Rock Radio; Tender Loving Care by Maureen in Owego, who donated Michael Jackson shirts with proceeds to benefit Maddie’s Meadows rescue in
Ten-year old Eli Van Shephard of the band GriEli captivated the audience with his drum wizardry at the third annual Zombie Fest held at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Owego; Susquehanna Printers; and Gerry Tulls, Stoughton Farms, G & J Homes, and Country Wagon who donated pumpkins as prizes for children.
And although the weather was forecast to be in the 50’s and cloudy, showers came through the area throughout the day; but this didn’t scare the zombies away. In fact, as darkness fell, the Recycled Zombies set up a tent for the fans to gather under to stay dry, and then invited them to join them on stage.
The event kicked off with an amazing performance by GriEli, featuring 10-year-old drummer Eli Van Shephard and Greg Grieve.
One of our region’s most popular bands, Wreckless Marci, performs at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Next up was one of the region’s favorites, Wreckless Marci – who recently performed for the Friday Night Strawberry Festival Block
Party in Owego, N.Y. In spite of occasional light showers, the parking lot filled up for their performance, and had fans on their feet and screaming for more.
A highlight, following the first set for Wreckless Marci, was a performance by 20 of Kathy Hansen Dance Studio performers, who offered several renditions of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. The dance thrilled guests with its
Dancers from the Kathy Hansen School of Dance perform a special choreographed number from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
replication of one of the most famous Zombie video performances in history.
The dancers then led the crowd for a Zombie Walk around Owego, N.Y. that was assisted by Owego’s Fire Police – who kept traffic
blocked as zombies shuffled their feet and came back to life for the community and passers-by to enjoy.
After the walk, Wreckless Marci entertained their fans once again, in spite of rains that were arriving.
By the time Recycled Zombies took to the stage, at 7 p.m., heavier rains were arriving, but the band set up a tent for their horde to
Recycled Zombies perform at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by Wendy Post)
huddle under to keep them dry during their hour and a half performance with “all” original members.
By 8:30 p.m., the rains became steadier, as the zombies departed into the night.
To view performance videos, visit https://youtu.be/0kNLi2MPhx8 for the dance performance, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4u3-0qsq-4 for the GriEli performance, visit https://youtu.be/4Fr7KaZKwb8 for a performance by Wreckless Marci, and visit https://youtu.be/ol4ly1np1dg for a late night performance by Recycled Zombies.
You can also “Like” Owego Zombie Fest on Facebook to view more.
To view photos below, click on thumbnail to enlarge, and then click again for full photo.
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- A scary clown arrives late in the evening at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by Wendy Post)
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- Recycled Zombies perform at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by Wendy Post)
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- Recycled Zombies perform at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by Wendy Post)
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- Dancers from Kathy Hansen’s School of Dance lead the Zombie Walk and peek into the storefronts during the zombie walk held in conjunction with Zombie Fest on Oct. 24, held in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- A dancer from the Kathy Hansen School of Dance opens a special choreographed number from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Dancers from the Kathy Hansen School of Dance pause prior to a number from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Kathy Hansen School of Dance performers pose prior to their performance at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Drummer Matt Jensen, from Wreckless Marci, performs at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Bass player Mark Sedlock, from Wreckless Marci, performs at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Zombie Fest walkers take to the streets of Owego at the third annual Zombie Walk through downtown Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Zombie Fest walkers share a scary stare in storefronts at the third annual Zombie Walk through downtown Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Dancers from Kathy Hansen’s School of Dance lead the third annual Zombie Walk through downtown Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Craig Palmer, lead guitarist for the band Wreckless Marci, performs at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Sonny Weeks, lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Wreckless Marci, performs at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Zombie guests dance and enjoy live music at the third annual Zombie Fest held in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Wendy Post, Sample Media Group weekly editor, and one of the organizers of Zombie Fest, poses at the event held on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- From left, Eli Van Shephard and Greg Grieve of the band, GriEli, pose after their set at the third annual Zombie Fest held Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Zombie guests gather to listen to live music at the third annual Zombie Fest held Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Young zombie guests gather to enjoy activities and listen to live music at the third annual Zombie Fest held Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- A zombie guest waits for live music at the third annual Zombie Fest held Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Greg Grieve of the band GriEli performs at the third annual Zombie Fest held at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- This zombie worked the crowd at the third annual Zombie Fest held at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. Zombie4 – Young zombies attend the third annual Zombie Fest held at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
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- Guests dressed like zombies gather to listen to live music at the third annual Zombie Fest held at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 24. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
