The Dead Rise for Zombie Kickball VII

The weather was perfect for today's annual Zombie Kickball game which took place on the Eastern Prom.  When I arrived the field was covered with zombies, but there was some confusion as one of the dugouts held a kids baseball team waiting to use the field.  But zombies have a way of triumphing over humans even when they aren't eating their faces.   The zombies had reserved the field.  So after watching the blood covered dead stumble around for awhile, the kids baseball team eventually wandered off.

The zombie turn out was smaller this year than in previous years, although there was a large crowd of spectators.  Not sure whether the lack of zombies had anything to do with being scheduled on the same day as the Old Port Festival or not, but both teams were fairly small and play was mostly in the infield.  There seemed to be a larger contingent of younger zombies.  Also it was good to see some familiar faces from previous years.

If you missed out on the fun, here are a few photos.

Zombies aren't the best kickers.

Some familiar faces from previous years get into a zombie skirmish.

Angry Ref zombie - another familiar face from previous years.

The littlest zombie whose eye makeup reminded me of Paul Stanley from Kiss.   Later on she almost devoured Monkey.

The Aviator zombie

Gas mask zombie 

The soccer zombie had some disgusting looking blood on his shirt.

A spectator helps Monkey with his Monkey Safety Vehicle, while Monkey comes to the realization that the vehicle has one major flaw - the entrance leaves his tail exposed to zombie bites.

Photos (c) Chris Wallace

Zombie Kickball rises again JUNE 10!

Paint for brains! Photo by Michelle Souliere, 2009.
Artwork by Carrie Vinette.

Oh boy oh boy! The grass is green on the Eastern Prom, and the skies are blue.

What else can that mean but IT'S TIME FOR ZOMBIE KICKBALL AGAIN!!!?

Break out the shin guards and parasols!


WHAT: Zombie Kickball VII!
WHEN: Sunday, June 10, 2012 @ 1:00pm
WHERE: Carter Field on the Eastern Prom, Portland
FMI: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Portland-Zombie-Kickball/110342888981391

Sooner or later... he WILL get to 1st base.
Photo by Michelle Souliere, 2009.

Come dressed to play a rousing game of kickball with the undead! Spectators are welcome, as zombies when kept busy amusing themselves behind fences are quite entertaining. Weather is often variable, so be sure to check the forecast when arranging your costume. There has been a year or two when the victims' brains were mixed liberally with mud as rain started coming down.

Costumes are up to you -- are you a serious phase-three latex and rotten gore zombie? An oatmeal and red syrup zombie? The choice is all yours! Zombie hunters may also find this a excellent opportunity to don goggles and protective overwear for a little fun in the sun. Hey, if you're well-armored, why not join one of the teams? It's been done before. No one's been eaten yet. Family groups are also a popular team-costume option. Best family photo op EVER!!! Astound the relatives at Christmas. Believe me, they won't be expecting a holiday photo like that!

Take a peek at last year's zombie shenanigans:


For a survey of some of the past years' Zombie Kickball events, click here:
http://strangemaine.blogspot.com/search?q=zombie+kickball

And above all, come ready to HAVE FUN!!! :)

Zombie Kickball VI video!

Clearly, as always, fun was had by all. Can you tell it's a family-friendly event? Look at all the kids this year!! :) Hot diggity, zombie fun in the sun.

Thanks to Mark Hensley, who took the time to put the film together and post it to my Strange Maine book page on Facebook with this note: "Today was a great day for ZOMBIE KICKBALL in Portland Maine!!! I would like to thank Pete Witham & The Cozmik Zombies for letting me use their song I Wanna Be A Zombie!!! Thanks Guys."

Thanks Mark!
Click on this link for the YouTube Video if the embedded video above isn't working: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsIlOCfARPA

SUNDAY: Zombie Kickball VI!

Better late than never. Those sneaky zombies, crawling about under my radar...

Here are the details if you would like to join the horde of cheerful undead kickball players (or just come and watch 'em lurching around the playing field) this Sunday:

WHAT: Zombie Kickball VI
WHEN: Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm
WHERE: Softball field, Eastern Prom, Portland ME 04101
COST: Free! Just bring your undead team spirit and sense of humor, you won't be disappointed.
FMI: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199022546796183

Zombie Kickball 2010 Report

On World Zombie Day, October 10, hordes of the living dead staggered to the Eastern Prom for the 5th Annual Zombie Kickball game. While the zombie turn out was smaller than last year, there was still plenty of action for the large group of spectators that turned out to see the dead stumble, growl, and try to kick the ball.

Photos by Chris Wallace, video by Monkey

A zombie is thrown into a state of confusion when he sees Monkey.
Zombies attempt to climb the fence so they can gorge on the living.
The sight of Monkey makes a child zombie go crazy.
This young zombie spotted Monkey and decided to eat Monkey's brain. Good thing Monkey had his biohazard helmet on.
Zombie Michael Jackson treated the crowd to moon walking and a brief version of the Thriller dance.
Mother and daughter zombie make it safely to third base due to confusion on the playing field.
The littlest zombie works it for the crowd.
This is the zombie idea of a picnic - a comfy blanket to sit on and a bag full of human limbs.
Scout Master zombie has a marshmallow on a stick in his brain.
Zombie competition causes chaos on the field and zombies chase each other.
It's never good when a zombie has green gunk spewing from her mouth.
Zombie Jesus gets in on the action.
Monkey receives a banana from a thoughtful zombie.
See how Monkey survived the Zombie Kickball game.

Once again, another fun day of Zombie Kickball in Portland. Can't wait for next years game!

ZOMBIE KICKBALL: back from the dead!

Zombie Kickball has NOT left the field! The 2010 game will commence on Sunday, October 10, starting at 1:00pm and shambling about until around 5:00pm on Portland's Eastern Promenade. It's their 5th birthday! Hooray!!! Better late than never!

Here's the Facebook event page to RSVP and/or get more info as it becomes available:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162955510384646

Hankering for a flashback? Here are some past years' photos:
ZKIV 2009: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkbrilliance/sets/72157621253523326/
ZKIII 2007: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkbrilliance/sets/72157600273730393/

And on the 5th anniversary, it is only right and proper to revisit the start of it all, the genesis of Zombie Kickball in Portland, via video:

Interview via the Sun Journal

I don't think I ever got a chance to post this on the blog last year, and thought some of you might have fun reading it, especially those of you who are recent additions to the blog subscribers. Definitely one of the lighter and more entertaining interviews I've done, thanks to the adept skills of Mark LaFlamme.

Face Time: Michelle Souliere, Chronicler of all things strange in Maine
By Mark LaFlamme
Published Jun 28, 2009 12:00 am

Freaks. Weirdos. Unmapped roads.... So begins the intro to the increasingly popular blog by the name Strange Maine. It was launched in 2005 by Michelle Souliere and for the past two years was named the very best by the Portland Phoenix. If it's strange and happening here, you can bet it will be covered at Strange Maine, not to be confused with Strange Maine the store or Strange Maine the book. Here, Michelle answers some questions about how she got to be the local authority on strange.

What is Strange Maine?
Strange Maine is a lot of things. It is made up of people, places and things that exist here in the state of Maine and perhaps nowhere else in the world. It is the feeling you get, which in some of us causes an almost giddy delight, when you stumble upon a pocket of this strangeness. It matters not whether the discovery is of a cache of weird items at someone's yard sale, a roadside museum that the world seems to have passed by but which has continued growing regardless, or a story that someone tells you about a weird house from their hometown that freaked them out as a kid. It's out there, and when you find it, it's darn good.

How did you come to create this site?
Honestly, I have a hard time remembering. I think I had spent a few months doing research on anomalous phenomenon, and perhaps stuff like whether downtown Portland is riddled with tunnel passageways, and other Maine- and New England-related weirdness. It baffled me that there was no single destination on the Web that collected this stuff to any real effect, especially as it related to Maine. So in a moment of insanity, I thought to myself, "I should do something about this!" and pressed that big orange button on Blogger.com that says "Create A Blog," thereby sealing my fate. It wasn't until later that I stumbled upon the New England Anomaly Web site, and realized I had neighbors as crazy as I am.

Why is Maine so freakin' strange?
I'm still trying to hash that one out. I can say "There's just something about it..." until the cows come home, but while it's a pleasingly ephemeral statement, it does nothing to clear up the puzzle. The real question is, do we actually want the riddle to be solved? My instinct says we don't. Part of the spell that Maine weaves is the fact that despite the best efforts of L.L. Beaners and tourist bureaus over the last century-plus to nail down and brand Maine to be sold like some rugged designer perfume to people from away, the best way to appreciate Maine is to find a spot here where you can just sit by yourself for a moment and absorb it.

I've tried to trace the element of strangeness to the wildness of Maine, its isolation, its sparse population and the tendency it has to attract and retain both the oddest and most wonderful of people (sometimes they are one and the same). It just doesn't add up. There has to be some weird synergistic effect, some alchemy at work, because the sum is greater than its tangible parts. Whatever it is, a crucial component in the recipe is the land itself, in all its Maine varieties — and, quite possibly, a lot of it has to do with being a borderland: a place on the border of wild and urban, on the border of the great Atlantic ocean, a place on the border of the U.S.-Canada line.

If you adopted the Turner Beast and gave him a name, what would it be?
For pure silliness, it would have to be Fred. If I wanted to freak people out, though, he'd be officially named "He Who Walks Behind the Trees" or "Fred the Terrible."

What do you have coming up?
The very tardy Spring '09 issue of the Strange Maine Gazette will be in print by July, which is pretty exciting for me, as I never thought I'd get it done after breaking my wrist in May. I'll be bringing copies of it to Zombie Kickball IV, here on Portland's Eastern Prom on Sunday June 28th, and then to the Paranormal and Psychic Faire at Fort Knox on the weekend of July 4th and 5th. I'm thrilled to be setting up at the Faire, after having heard about it for the last few years. I've never been to the historic Fort Knox site, which is supposed to be gorgeous, as well as very haunted, and it's an area of Maine I haven't explored yet, which is always a big bonus. I'm also working with a great group of local artists on a Strange Maine themed art show that I'll be curating at Sanctuary here in Portland, which will be on exhibit for the month of October. Never a dull moment!

[Source: http://www.sunjournal.com/node/20518]

EVENT: Calling all zombies!

The First Annual West Fest block party is including a zombie kickball game!

WHAT: West Fest block party
WHEN: Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, 2:00-4:00pm
WHERE: Game will be played outside on the Reiche School field (or inside in the gym)

Like Zombie Kickball events in the past, you know the drill-- come on down in your best zombie get-up, and have some fun!
----------------------
The annual Zombie Kickball is still TBA for this year, but should take place sometime during the summer on the East End. Zombie Kickball is looking for a new wrangler/captain/organizer/manager (loosely speaking), if you're up for the job let us know your contact info and we'll forward it appropriately. :)

Zombie Kickball 2009 early reports

I've posted a batch of photos from this wacky romp in the mud here on Facebook -- please feel free to tag yourself if any of them happen to be of you! I have a few more to put up, but this should get y'all started.

The event was rain or shine, regardless of rumors to the contrary. In a wonderful surprise, a large crowd of players showed up, and an even larger crowd of spectators arrived shortly after, despite the weather. There was a lot of laughter and fun had by all, and a good pile of food and donations were collected for the Good Shepherd foodbank, so all in all it was a rousing success on all counts. Those interested in donating after the fact can contact the organizers through the MySpace Zombie Kickball page here: myspace.com/zombiekickball

Also, the Portland Press Herald did a full-color piece on the event in this morning's paper, which I can't seem to find on their website, but which has some cool photos. However, I did find the MaineToday.com blog of Caraslifka's ZK4 photos, which are great as well. Huzzah!

Plus, check out this great video on YouTube:

Video by Mark High, soundtrack by Covered in Bees

My favorite parts of the day? Zombie EMT, all the tiny zombies, seeing everyone under their umbrellas grinning through the rain, MUD everywhere!, the gorey Dr. Killjoy and assistant, awesome painted zombie jacket art by Rad Jackets Cheap Money, zombie brain cupcakes by Bobbie, and people hula-hooping in the spectator stands. Hooray for zombies!!!

Zombie Kickball IV - a reminder

Rain or shine. Carter Field, Eastern Prom, Portland, Maine. 2:00pm!!!

Muddy zombie fun for all!!!

Dress appropriately. Maybe bring a towel? :)

See you all there!

--------------------------------
COST: Free! Bring a non-perishable food donation for the Good Shepherd Food Bank to the game if you would like to keep humans alive.
FMI: www.myspace.com/zombiekickball
AFTERPARTY: Masses of the walking dead will be contained at the Space Gallery at 4:30pm! Covered in Bees, Lost Cause Desperados, and Ghosthunter will play to throngs of zombies. This is an all-ages after-party. Club opens up around 4, show gets going about 4:30pm. Cover is $5.
RAINDATE: We've been asked several times if there is a scheduled rain date for our event. There is no alternate day for our game. But there is rain predicted for this weekend - with scattered thunderstorms likely on Sunday. Please plan ahead and dress accordingly on game day. Clearly, we will all have to modify our costumes a little bit. And we may even have to modify our game. So let's keep our fingers crossed for a break in the weather!

The Good Shepherd Food Bank will be collecting cash and non-perisables, regardless of the weather, at both the game on the Eastern Prom and the show at Space.

Zombie Kickball is on!

WHAT: Zombie Kickball IV!!!
WHEN: June 28th, 2009, 2:00pm
WHERE: Carter Field, Eastern Promenade, Portland, Maine
COST: Free! Bring a non-perishable food donation for the Good Shepherd Food Bank to the game if you would like to keep humans alive.
FMI: www.myspace.com/zombiekickball
AFTERPARTY: Masses of the walking dead will be contained at the Space Gallery at 4:30pm! Covered in Bees, Lost Cause Desperados, and Ghosthunter will play to throngs of zombies. This is an all-ages after-party. Club opens up around 4, show gets going about 4:30pm. Cover is $5.
RAINDATE: We've been asked several times if there is a scheduled rain date for our event. There is no alternate day for our game. But there is rain predicted for this weekend - with scattered thunderstorms likely on Sunday. Please plan ahead and dress accordingly on game day. Clearly, we will all have to modify our costumes a little bit. And we may even have to modify our game. So let's keep our fingers crossed for a break in the weather!

The Good Shepherd Food Bank will be collecting cash and non-perisables, regardless of the weather, at both the game on the Eastern Prom and the show at Space.

You can watch video of past Zombie Kickball events on YouTube! Here is the historic first ZK Video, followed underneath by the 2008 game last year, as reported on by our own favorite Monkey, and then again by the Lewiston Sun Journal.

EVENTS: Halloween is Howlin'!

Every October, it suddenly seems like there are too many delicious things to do! This year is no exception. So far, here is a rundown of events that have come to our attention. First, items we've showcased already are listed here for easy reference (new events added 10/15/08):

Wicked Walking Tours of Portland

Haunted Freeport walking tours

Tales of Terror at Victoria Mansion

Zombie Kickball/March in Waterville (updated)

Fright at the Fort at Fort Knox in Prospect

Eastern Cemetery events in Portland

Thrill the World re-enactment of Michael Jackson's Thriller video in Gray

Now for the new items:

WHAT: Bangor Ghost Lamp Tour -- Imagine presidents, gangsters and ghosts as you take this educational and entertaining evening walk through Bangor history.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 7:00pm
WHERE: Downtown Bangor Waterfront, Front St. Bangor. Meet at the River Front parking lot.
COST: $5, children under 12 free.
FMI: (207)942-1900, www.bangormuseum.com

WHAT: Lantern tours of Haunted Damariscotta & Wiscasset with the Lady in the Red Cloak. Wearing the garb of the Victorian era, Sally Lobkowicz will take you, lantern bobbing, through the winding back ways of two of Maine's old riverside settlements, and related haunting tales of their ghostly denizens.
WHEN:7:00pm, now through October 30th
WHERE:Starting location will be divulged when you make your reservation by calling (207)380-3806
COST: $10 per person, $5 for children under 12 years old
FMI:(207)380-3806

WHAT: The 1830-built Maine house featured on the TV show Paranormal State is offering tours. We related the story of this haunting in a previous post, which you can read by clicking here. Proceeds will be donated to the Animal Welfare Society.
WHEN: now through October 31st
WHERE: 1226 West Road, Waterboro, ME.
COST: $5 per person for self-guided tour (including pamphlet about the property's haunting), $25 for overnight stay.
FMI:(207)432-4119

WHAT: Haunted Hayrides -- a local classic of the season, this 40-minute hayride through the haunted, dark forest next to Scarborough Downs started out 19 years ago on a farm in Gorham. Not the scariest, but definitely a lot of fun for all ages, with great outdoor atmosphere.
WHEN:evenings, now through November 1st. Reservations recommended, call (207)885-5935 to pick a time and date. (NOTE: In past years, I've had a hard time getting anyone at this number during daytime -- it may be best to call in the evening.)
WHERE: Next to Scarborough Downs, off Route 1 in Scarborough.
COST: $13 per person, $9 for children 6 to 12 years old
FMI:(207)885-5935

WHAT: Goffstown's Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta! Travel over to neighboring NH to indulge your love of racing floating pumpkins. See full list of events here. What, you find this hard to believe? See some footage of other folks' floating pumpkin vessels here.
WHEN:Race starts at 3:00pm, Sunday, October 19th. Events run Oct 18-Oct 19th.
WHERE:Downtown commons, Goffstown, New Hampshire
COST: Attendance is free!
FMI:(603)497-9933 or click here for schedule of events
NOTE: Check out a ton more spook-a-riffic and just plain fun New Hampshire events throughout October on New Hampshire Magazine's site.

Zombie Kickball and Zombie Walk in Waterville!

Updated 10/13/08 with new schedule of events.

Feeling zombie withdrawal? Want some guaranteed zombie-fun action come Halloween season? Well you're in luck! There is an upcoming Zombie Kickball and Zombie Walk in Waterville, and they want you to come!

WHAT: The 1st Annual Zombie Kickball and Waterville Walk of the Undead!
WHEN: Saturday, October 25th, 2008, meet between 3:00-4:00pm at the Railroad Square Cinema. From there, shamble en masse to the soccer field and have a zombie-licious kickball game. Next is the Zombie March back to Railroad Square Cinema, after which all zombies are invited to go to the restaurant at the cinema and feast on BRAINS! A special showing of Night of the Living Dead will be screened at 9:00pm, following these events.
WHERE: Meet at 17 Railroad Square, Waterville, Maine (Railroad Square Cinema), Waterville, from there proceed to kickball field location (TBA)
COST: Admission to the 9:00pm film showing is the usual $7.50 for a movie ticket, the Zombie Kickball and Zombie Walk are of course free!
FMI: Contact Chris Osgood at (207)622-6854, or at colopoao[at]yahoo.com, or via his MySpace page. Get directions to Railroad Square Cinema here.

Information here is as current as possible, please check back for updates! Zombies should converge on Railroad Square Cinema between 3:00 and 4:00pm. The afternoon game of Zombie Kickball will be held at a to-be-announced field location. Afterwards, zombies will return to Railroad Square Cinema, where they can shamble into a showing of the original classic zombie movie, George Romero's Night of the Living Dead after a brain-eating extravaganza.

Osgood is aiming to summon a few hundred zombies to the event. Radio station 92 Moose will be there, and DJ Jon James from the Moose Morning Show will be walking as one of the undead. Osgood and Ken (from Railroad Square Cinema) hope to have a "shock kit" available for attendees, which would include souvenir items such as t-shirts, stickers, etc.

Osgood is a contributer to GASP (Gore and Shock Provoked) Magazine www.gaspmagazine.net, where his horror stories have been published. He can be contacted at colopoao[at]yahoo.com or via his MySpace page.

Photo (c)Chris Wallace.

ZOMBIES Wanted! SUNDAY!!!

As well you know if you are a reader of this blog, there is no shortage of zombies in Portland. Our population is rife with zombie lovers and the undead, willing to show up for anything from a simple march to the all-out sports madness of Zombie Kickball. I will indulge in some delightful reminiscing about early Portland zombie frivolity in another post, but first down to business.

The press release website at GroffVideo.com claims "Numerous cash prizes awarded for zombies who really give it their all!" Read on...

This is a promotional spot for a future TV show: Bizarre, funny game show/reality show is all about ZOMBIES (and survivors)

Volunteer ZOMBIES needed!

• Filled with fun challenges

• Sponsored by a new energy drink

• Multi camera, high-end production

• Come ready in your own Zombie Make-up and costume

• Prizes awarded to “best Zombies”

• Zombie boot camp by Hollywood Stunt Coordinator (Mark Bedell, Stunt Coordinator and Fight Trainer for Maine Academy of Staged Combat)

• Food will be provided

WHERE: Portland, Maine
WHEN: 2pm to 10:30pm on Sunday, Sept. 21st
REQUIRED: Must be 18+ -- Must sign a waiver -- No Cameras
HOW?: Please e-mail to sign up and confirm. They will send you the location of the event. Please send a picture of your Zombie-self or describe your costume and interest in zombies!

CONTACT: zombieswanted@yahoo.com

Their website states that food will be provided, but they recommend bringing additional snacks/drinks.

The promo they produced to promote the show to potential buyers can be seen below.

EVENT: Portland's Eastern Cemetery Tours

Sorry you missed Zombie Kickball? Or perhaps in the mood for a more sedate gambol with the dead? Then try one of the many regular tours offered up by Spirits Alive! You can also scroll down further if you are more practical-minded, and peruse the list of workdays when volunteers and those who enjoy the earthy delights of gardening add their touch to the Eastern Cemetery by hand.

Sun, July 13th at 1:00pm — Earliest Portland: The Eastern’s Unmarked Past
In 1632, settlers began arriving at the place we now call Portland. No buildings remain from that time. The open land of Eastern Cemetery is an appropriate site to learn about some of the events of the 17th and early 18th centuries that occurred within sight of the cemetery and shaped Portland’s indomitable spirit.

Saturday, July 19th at 10:00am — Art and the Elements
A fascinating introduction to the geology of the Eastern Cemetery, including markers and monuments; a brief introduction to early mortuary art (as seen on the stones), and the effects of the environment on the site.

Sunday, July 20th at 1:00pm -- Earliest Portland: The Eastern’s Unmarked Past
(see above for description)

Sunday, July 27th, 5pm -- Stroll through the Silent City - The 350 Year History of the Eastern
Stroll through three and a half centuries of the Eastern Cemetery’s intertwined past with the Portland peninsula in this local history-laden tour.

All tours begin at the Congress Street gates of the Eastern Cemetery, and will be cancelled if weather is very rainy. The Eastern Cemetery is located on Congress, Mountfort and Federal Streets at the foot of Munjoy Hill.

Tours take approximately one hour. The ground is uneven at this National Trust for Historic Places site, so please wear appropriate footwear.

Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for seniors (62+, children under 12 and students). Cash or check.

WORKDAYS
Join us at the cemetery when we spend the occasional Saturday morning trimming, pruning, cleaning and tidying the landscape. The City of Portland generously supplies us with tools, mulch, water and wheelbarrows, and we train volunteers on how to perform gardening tasks while carefully working around the historic stones. We have a good time and sometimes even break a sweat!

NEXT WORKDAY: Saturday, July 12th, from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Spice up your summer with a little planting/watering/mulching in the cemetery! All are welcomed, green thumb or not. Wear sensible shoes, bring work gloves, a bottle of water and sunscreen or a hat. Bring tools if you have them – a rake, shovel, pruning shears, and wheelbarrow are very useful. We also take loan of City tools so those will be available. Not up to planting trees? We have light pruning and trimming to do as well, and though volunteers have already done a trash pick-up, there's more to do.

Mark your calendar with these remaining workdays: August 9, and September 13.

Spirits Alive is a non-profit organization that supports public access to, events and education, and a master conservation plan for Portland’s Historic Eastern Cemetery.

FMI: www.spiritsalive.org (...and while you're at their site, click on their LINKS page for a remarkable collection of cemetery-friendly websites!)

Zombie Kickball III Report

Group photo by Cat Krupsky.

Well, it's been about a week since the brain-loving brouhaha that is Zombie Kickball happened. Enough time for more reports to trickle in, for people to collect their various body parts and figure out what happened on that crazy afternoon. Lucky for us, there were plenty of folks, zombie and non-zomb, to document the occasion and help us figure out what the heck happened. Photo of zombie Polaroidist by Michelle Souliere.

Here are a few of the things we have found (although nothing quite as sweet as our dear Monkey's video correspondence on the matter)...

Justin Ellis' NXT blog sports a nifty, well-edited video clip which gives a great overall impression of the event, which aptly captured its ridiculous sense of wonder:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/mondaymag/ellis/

The Lewiston Sun Journal was so kind as to send staff writer M. Dirk Langeveld all the way down here to cover the event, which resulted in an article which contains my favorite quote from the event:

Matt Cargile and Katie Maloney of South Portland made up the ultimate odd couple. Though the two were dating, Maloney was zombified, while Cargile, carrying a special lobotomizing tool, played a zombie hunter who was the last member of his elite Special Forces unit.

"We sleep in separate beds," Cargile said.

"He has to keep his door locked, or I will kill him," added Maloney. "Who knows what our children will be."

You can read the full Sun Journal article here.
Photo of Matt Cargile, Zombie Hunter, (see right) by Michelle Souliere.

The Sun Journal's foray into Portland zombie fanaticism also resulted in a short but sweet video clip:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wwdVQSnc3C0

Bill Griffith's YouTube video clips aren't as polished, but definitely retain the drooling, brain-eating, shambling charm of the event:
Clip #1
Clip #2

Even Monkey Brains Aren't Safe from the Zombie Horde

If you missed out on the zombie kickball game last weekend on the Eastern Prom in Portland, you can view some of the shenanigans and zombie action in this hilarious film by Portland's beloved Monkey. If only Monkey had realized that even monkey brains aren't safe when zombies run wild.

If you're not in the mood for video entertainment, check out the undead hijinks below or check out the whole set of Zombie Kickball photos
photos (c) Chris Wallace

Neither rain nor brains... ZKIII update!

Dear zombie lovers-- today is the day of the 3rd Annual Great Zombie Kickball Game! It is rainy. The ground is soggy (not unlike our undead limbs). BOY IS THIS GOING TO BE FUN!!!

Make way for muddy zombies!!!

See you there. 2:00pm, Eastern Prom. There is no alternate day for the game. Please dress accordingly!

Got mud?

It'll just make the brains -- oops, I mean -- It'll just make the game tastier.

Photo by Michelle Souliere (c)2007.

Zombie KB III Tips!

From the ZKIII MySpace blog come these helpful tips (click here to go to the Zombie Kickball site):

ZKIII - How to Help
Current mood: stoked

Zombie Kickball has been swamped with friend requests! Our inbox has been flooded with messages. So many friends of ZKIII have proclaimed their affection for the event, and pledged their undying devotion to the team! A lot of you have even offered to lend us a hand… or an arm… and a leg… in wrangling the undead hordes for the game.

Friends of ZKIII can do a couple of things – right now – to help us in corralling the zombies for game day.

Tell your friends about Zombie Kickball! Everyone is welcome at this event - participants and spectators alike.

Think about your role! Will you be documenting the event? Will you be playing kickball? Or will you be involved in the game in some other capacity – do you want to be a coach, a team captain, an umpire, a cheerleader, a marching band member? Will you be a spectator? Will you be cheering from the bleachers, or waving a banner or sign from the behind the fence? Will you be sitting on the lawn?

There will be a "refreshment stand" at this year's event. We will bring a table and drinks (water, iced tea and lemonade, along with cups and napkins) to the game. Maybe you'd like to bring some snacks?

We would like there to be a "first-aid tent" this year, as well. If somebody hurts themselves, we will (of course) call 9-1-1. But if somebody's make-up runs, we can send them to the "medic" for a touch-up. Maybe you'd like to bring your skills?

Think about your character! Are you an infected civilian? Are you an uninfected civilian, or a zombie survivalist? Or are you a re-animated corpse? If you're a zombie, what were the circumstances of your life, and death? Where were you when you died and re-animated? How long have you been undead? Are you a new zombie that is still relatively human-looking, or are you an old braineater that barely looks human anymore? How do you move? What do you sound like? How do you act in the presence of humans, and how do you relate to other ghouls?

Think about your costume! Do you have the clothes for your battered and bloody costume? Do you have the theatrical make-up to complete your bloody and grisly look? Do you know how to apply that make-up? Do you need to make any props?

If there is a first aid tent at this year's event, and you don't know how to apply theatrical make-up, perhaps you can have your make-up done by a medic prior to the game.

You can also do a thing or two – in a few weeks – to help us in herding the boils and ghouls on game day. We will post some more information here as it becomes available, and shortly before the game.

And remember… Nobody owns Maine's Zombie Kickball – it belongs to Portland's community. Feel free to message and comment as you like – all of your suggestions are welcome.

Thank you for all your support!

Make the time! Zombie Kickball III is on!

Portland's third annual Zombie Kickball event is working itself up into a feeding frenzy right now...

Hordes of the undead will overrun the Eastern Prom and infect Carter field on Sunday, June 29th at 2pm!

The field is reserved from 2 to 4pm.

This event is fiercely infectious... Masses of the walking dead will also plague Space Gallery at 4pm!

Covered in Bees, Man-Witch and Confusatron will play to throngs of zombies. This is an all-ages after party. Club opens up around 4, show gets going about 5pm.

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/zombiekickball

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!! So much FUNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!