Newquay was packed with the legions of the undead this weekend as the annual Zombie Crawl took place to celebrate Halloween. Nearly 1000 people attended this year’s Crawl, making it bigger and better than ever before.

Titan the Robot kicked off the event at 1pm, performing at the Piazza opposite the Lighthouse Cinema as well as an impromptu display in Central Square, to the great enjoyment of young and old alike. Titan was helped by his well-dressed assistant Dave, and provided an excellent show for the many families watching, with lots of audience participation. The families then enjoyed a fun Halloween disco at the Cribbar in Gover Lane, with a spooktacular dance workshop by Unity Dance and Mind, candyfloss and fearsome face painting. The streets of Newquay were patrolled by stilt walkers, scary statues, jugglers and ghoulish acrobats cartwheeling through Bank Street, to the delight of the Saturday afternoon shoppers.

The Crawl itself started at 3pm from Gover Lane: compere Anton Roberts led the parade of zombies, ghosts, ghouls and other frightening characters through the town and this year the standard of fancy dress and make up by the general public was especially good: very well done to everyone who participated. Many of the Bank Street shops joined in the fun, dancing in doorways and giving out sweets to the crowd. The Crawl made a brief stop outside Frankie and Benny’s where Unity Dance and Mind performed a Halloween dance display, which went down a treat with everyone watching.

The Zombie Crawl crept its way through East Street, arriving at the Hotel Victoria just after 3.30pm, where the Creepy Campervan photo booth was ready to take pictures of families and their fantastic fancy dress. The Halloween party inside the superbly decorated Hotel Victoria was thoroughly enjoyed by the hundreds of families inside, including the acrobat show and the finale of the event – Titan the Robot performing again with yet another amazing show.

Carla-Marie Jones, BID Manager, commented that “the Zombie Crawl gets bigger and better each year and it was great to see Newquay high street so vibrant and buzzing with people. Thanks so much to all the businesses that took part and the hundreds of families who turned up for this annual free event organised by Newquay BID”

Carla continues: “Newquay BID would especially like to thank those businesses who helped make the Zombie Crawl the massive success that it was: Titan the Robot, Nitoe Security, the Cribbar, Unity Dance and Mind, Little Rainbow Face Painting, Get Doodled Face Painting, Swamp Circus, Impact Light and Sound, Anton Roberts, Cornwall Photo Bus Company and the Hotel Victoria. It was really positive to see so many businesses wanting to get involved and help make the town so busy at the end of October. The Zombie Crawl will return in 2018 with even more to do and see”.

Newquay BID has continued to grow events that bring extra footfall into Newquay’s town centre during the shoulder seasons. The next big event for the town centre will be Newquay’s Festive Festival, with the Christmas Light switch on by Newquay’s own Daisy Clark, and the Lantern Parade. This event is organised by Newquay BID in partnership with Newquay Town Council and Newquay Lions and will take place on Friday 24th November. Before that there is the Firework Display on the 5^th November at Newquay Sports Centre, organised by Newquay Town Council, Newquay BID, Visit Newquay and Newquay Sports Centre. Arrival is at 6.30pm, with the firework display at 7pm: the Lions Clubs of Newquay will be collecting for their charities and the future preservation of the event.

For more information about events hosted by Newquay BID please email info@newquaybid.co.uk, call 01637 498599.