Zombies help boost business in Long Beach

If you happened to be walking by Kennedy Plaza in Long Beach on Saturday, you might have seen a group of zombies shambling by in search of a few beers.

No, this isn’t the start of a bad horror movie.

About 40 zombie enthusiasts dressed as the living dead walked the streets of Long Beach for the  Long Beach Zombie Walk and Pub-Crawl.

“What do we want?” shouted one zombie.

“Brains!” the others shouted in unison.

Covered in fake blood, prosthetic wounds and torn clothing, the zombies moaned and groaned their way from bar to bar while passersby looked on in confusion, amusement and horror.

“It's a lot of fun to see people’s expressions. We’ve had people stop their cars,” said Jennifer Shemanski, 32, of Long Beach, who was responsible for organizing the pub-crawl. “Everyone who comes is really awesome, and you make new friends and have fun every time.”

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The pub crawl, now in its third year, serves to help boost business in local bars and shops as well as offer a fun opportunity for zombie enthusiasts to show off their best undead impersonations.

“It’s the first time I ever heard of it [the pub-crawl] and I said ‘Why not?’” said Patricia DiMichele, 28, of Wantagh.

The pub crawl attract participants from all walks of life, from real estate agents to receptionists and filmmakers.

“Who doesn’t wanna get dressed up as a zombie?” said Valerie Seidel, 26, of East Meadow.

The crowd of zombies shuffled and laughed as they traveled between four local bars, drawing nervous laughter and some awkward stares from shop owners and diners along the street. Participating bars gave discounts on drinks to everyone dressed as the walking dead.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Keith McCaan, 38, of Atlantic Beach. “It’s like Halloween in August.”

Photo: About 40 participants shamble Saturday along the streets of Long Beach for the  Long Beach Zombie Walk and Pub-Crawl, now in its third year. (Aug. 18, 2012)