Zombies take over Casco Viejo on Halloween (Panama City)

A Halloween tradition called the Panama Zombie Walk, celebrated for five years now on Halloween, is moving out of the Calle Uruguay party district and into the historic Old Quarter. The creative collective called Porto Diao that is behind the annual “undead” pilgrimage says that its participants take the event very seriously, dressing in dreadfully dead costume and makeup, and without any haste to spook an unsuspecting innocent human bystander.

And there are lots of them. Last year, nearly Protected content participated.

This year, the Zombie Walk starts at Plaza Herrera in Casco Viejo at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Signing up is free and grants zombie walkers a bracelet that is valid for promotions in bars and restaurants in the Old Quarter and beyond.

The walk begins all along Avenida A, the Old Quarter’s main road. The zombie horde will pass through the main plazas of this World Heritage Site, such as Plaza Bolivar and Plaza Catedral.

Inside sources say a special impromptu appearance by Michael Jackson, shaking his bones to the tune of “Thriller” is in the mix along with fireworks, priests trying to “exorcise” the zombies, and monster hunters bearing water pistols.

The final destination on the walk is “The Dark Tower”, a short walking distance from Plaza Herrera, where a Halloween party awaits with a special performance from Internationally-renowned Panamanian rock band Filtro Medusa at 11:00 p.m.ç

For a list of participating businesses in the Zombie Walk, pics and videos of past Walks, this year’s route and more details about the event, visit the Porto Diao web portal at Protected content or send an e-mail to Protected content .