Zombies return to haunt downtown Lexington as part of annual Halloween Thriller parade

The 11th annual Thriller parade is Sunday, Oct. 28 in downtown Lexington.

Downtown Lexington will once again be overrun with zombies on Sunday, Oct. 28, as the 11th annual Thriller parade takes to Main Street to celebrate Halloween by recreating Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking video for “Thriller.”
 

“We’re expecting 15,000-20,000 people downtown … living and undead,” Gray said.
 

Four different Michaels will lead 1,000 volunteers in reenactments of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. The reenactments will begin at 8:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Theatre, Trust Lounge, Downtown Arts Center and at the corner with Main and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The dancers will proceed down Main Street to Mill Street, performing the routine numerous times along the way.
 

“We have four great Michaels, including Albert Ignacio, and wonderful volunteers have spent the last five weeks learning the choreography at Mecca Dance Studio,” Gray said. This is the 11th anniversary of Lexington’s annual live performance.
 

This year for the first time there will be extended preshow activities, including several for children, beginning at 6 p.m. on the Centrepointe block. Activities include acts by the Pickled Brothers Circus and the Cabinet of Curiosities, a kids-only Thriller, a magic show by mad scientist Dr. Fiske, a variety show from 7-8 p.m. and the March Madness Marching Band.

Main Street will be closed at 7:45 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. a sea of Zombies will take over downtown Lexington and proceed down Main Street. They will be followed by a brief parade.
 

An after party will take place in the Fifth Third Pavilion at Cheapside Park, with a live performance by Ford Theatre Reunion. In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29.
 

“As Michael Jackson wrote, ‘night creatures calling, the dead start to walk in their masquerade’ and it all happens on Sunday. Come on, downtown,” Gray said.

The Thriller Showcase will begin at 6 p.m. at the CenterPointe field stage. This showcase will feature spooky dances by Mecca, Kiddie Kapers, SCAPA middle school, the March Madness Marching Band and Michael Jackson tribute pieces by the Danceformers.
 

Click here for a full schedule of events for the evening of the parade.

For more information, to be added to the “Thriller” list for event updates and rehearsal information leading up to the big night please contact Mecca Live Studio at 859-254-9790 or meccadancestudio@gmail.com.
 

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for Thriller parade and rousing good time